MANILA, Philippines?Communist rebels disguised as journalists gained entry into a police station in Quezon province and carted away 14 firearms on Sunday, the police said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Jesus Verzosa Monday placed all police units across Luzon on heightened alert as pursuit operations were launched.

He said the heightened alert was also in anticipation of hostile actions the New People?s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), might stage to mark its founding anniversary on Dec. 26.

Verzosa also placed the entire police force in Calabarzon (Calamba, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) on full alert to mobilize all personnel and resources for the manhunt.

About 70 NPA rebels armed with high-powered firearms raided a police station in San Narciso town, Quezon, on Sunday afternoon, carting away five M-16 rifles, four shotguns, four 9-mm pistols and a .38-cal. revolver, a bandolier and ammunition, the PNP said in a statement.

Convincing disguise

On the ground, however, Senior Supt. Elmo Francis Sarona, Quezon police chief, said 25 rebels?some wearing Army camouflage uniforms, carrying high-powered weapons and accompanied by five NPA ?amazons? (female members) who posed as news reporters?entered the police station in the town proper at about 4 p.m. and subdued the eight officers on duty.

?Their disguise was convincing. That was why they easily penetrated the station,? Sarona told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.

The raiders also seized a laptop computer, three cell phones and cash amounting to P30,000 before fleeing to nearby Barangay Buenavista, Sarona said.

Verzosa said the police recovered the group?s getaway vehicle, a Mitsubishi van in Buenavista.

Citing records, Verzosa said the CPP-NPA has been known to stage hostile acts when its founding anniversary is approaching.

?These offensive activities include ?show of force? and other high-profile actions to gain propaganda mileage,? he said.

Citing reports, Sarona said the supposed journalists were talking with the police desk officer when the rest of the communist rebels rushed in and disarmed the officers on duty. They were herded into a room and tied up.

The rebels ransacked the armory. They escaped in two vans, heading toward Buenavista. It was over in 10 minutes.

?The NPA were looking for the chief of police but he was not around. He was with a team of policemen on patrol,? Sarona said.

Citing reports, Sarona said the rebels were estimated to number around 80 and were fully armed.

?Some of the rebels were spotted conducting checkpoints, ready to stage an ambush against any reinforcements,? Sarona said.

Chief Supt. Perfecto Palad, Calabarzon regional police director, said all San Narciso policemen led by Insp. Marcelino Uy would be relieved of their duties.

They would be investigated and could be administratively charged for possible lapses in police operation procedures, Palad said in a radio interview.

Ironically, San Narciso was recently declared an ?NPA-free? area by the military.

The attack by the communist rebels occurred as the Armed Forces of the Philippines declared that it was inclined to declare a ceasefire with the insurgents during the holiday season.

The AFP traditionally declares a four-day holiday truce on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. With a report from Agence France-Presse