THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has mobilized its tactical and maneuver units in anticipation of possible attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) in line with the 49th founding anniversary celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on December 26.
PNP Directorate for Operations chief Camilo Cascolan said his men on the ground were alerted against possible attacks by the NPA, the CPP’s armed wing, against the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"Offense is always better than defense. Preventive and prophylactic combat patrols in coordination with the AFP should be launched in addition to target hardening of all camps and vital installations,” he said.
The peace talks between the government and the communist rebels have collapsed. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the cancellation of all the scheduled meetings between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), political arm of the CPP, due to the attacks conducted by the NPA despite the peace talks.
He also formally tagged the NPA rebels and CPP members as terrorists. Authorities are now hunting down the communist rebels who were freed earlier as part of the peace negotiations. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)