AUTHORITIES have doubled intelligence efforts in anticipation of attacks by the New People's Army (NPA) "terrorists" as their anniversary nears.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa cited the attacks launched by the armed group in Labo, Camarines Norte in Bicol Region and in Poblacion, Binuangan, Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao on Sunday, December 3.
"We expect that to happen although as much as possible we try to avoid being at the receiving end sa casualties but ambush, it's ambush,” Dela Rosa said during a brief press conference on December 2.
Chief Inspector Andrea dela Cerna, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao, said the region is on full alert status following the NPA attack in Misamis Oriental, where four police officers were wounded.
The Davao City Police Office, on the other hand, said its forces are always ready to restrain NPA attacks especially that there are police stations in Davao City which are considered to be in rebel-infested areas.
The DCPO augmented its forces after the NPAs torched in April 2017 a plastic plant and cartoon factory of Lapanday Foods Corp. (LFC) in Barangay Mandug, Buhangin District and Bunawan District-Panabo City boundary and attacked the Lorenzo Farms in Calinan District.
DCPO stations, which are considered to be in rebel-infested areas, are Baguio Police, Marilog Police, Calinan Police, Paquibato Police, Tugbok Police and Toril Police stations.
Authorities also intensified their intelligence monitoring in Buhangin Police Station since this area can be easily accessed by the NPA coming from Barangay Talandang in Calinan District and Barangay Callawa from Paquibato District.
"Mas pinaigting natin ngayon ang ating intel-monitoring after sa pagsunog sa Lapanday na kagagawan ng NPA (We intensified our intel-monitoring after the NPAs burned down the Lapanday factory)," said Chief Inspector Jack Tilcag, Buhangin Police Station chief.
The police are urging citizens to report immediately to the nearest police station if they observe suspicious activities in the community.