PNP on heightened alert as CPP marks 53rd anniversary
By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan / Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) alerted all its police regional offices against possible hostilities by local terrorists as the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) marks its 53rd anniversary on Sunday.
“The CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), are known to stage armed offensive actions to drumbeat commemoration of significant dates in the underground communist organization,” PNP chief Gen. Dionardo B. Carlos said in a statement.
“Historically, there are documented incidents of high-profile tactical engagements against government forces, and hostilities against soft targets launched by the CPP-NPA to mark the CPP anniversary every December 26th, and the NPA anniversary on March 29th,” he noted.
Carlos said the Special Action Force, the PNP’s national maneuver force, and all 17 Regional Mobile Force Battalions nationwide were put on the highest alert condition for possible rapid deployment and quick reaction to any contingency.
Also alerted were PNP units engaged in relief operations in the wake of the simultaneous attacks staged by CPP-NPA terrorists on disaster response missions in Samar and Surigao del Sur at the height of preemptive evacuation operations for Typhoon Odette.
This particular security concern is simultaneous with ongoing heightened security measures implemented nationwide by local PNP units throughout the holiday season as well as relief and rehabilitation operations in areas affected by the onslaught of the typhoon on Dec. 16. (PNA)