A POLICE official advised on Thursday, December 26 all police forces to conduct defensive operations if attacked by communist rebels despite the holiday ceasefire.
Major General Emmanuel Licup, Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Operations director, noted that the communist New People’s Army has already violated the ceasefire agreement thrice.
He cited the communist attacks on government forces in Camarines Norte, Iloilo and Quezon which resulted in the killing of a soldier and wounding of eight others.
Licup said the attacks merely showed the insincerity of the communist rebels.
“In the very incident you defend yourself. Pwede kang lumaban pero you don’t do it in an offensive manner. Kung ambush, pwede kang lumaban (In an ambush, you can fight back),” he said.
Licup made the statement during the indignation rally conducted by several sectors of the government, which was also participated by private organizations, to condemn the attacks being staged by the communist rebels who are observing their 51st founding anniversary.
At least 200 riders of the PNP-Highway Patrol Group from the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon joined the rally.
One team of riders headed north, passing through Liwasang Bonifacio, Monumento Circle and the University of the Philippines while the other headed south and passed through Edsa Shrine and Baclaran.
In December 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order 70 which sets the whole-of-nation approach to end the 50-year armed conflict with the communist rebel.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo slammed the CPP for continuously “fooling” the people.
“There is nothing to celebrate in 51 years of duplicity! The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has been fooling many of our people for more than half a century now,” he said in a statement
“We should mourn the more than five decades of the CPP’s despotic schemes and evil designs that have destroyed the future of many of our children, ruined the fibers of Filipino family values, prevented economic growth, and divided our nation,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)