FILE PHOTO: Philippine National Police.
(Updated 2:56 p.m.)
MANILA, Philippines — Will the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) find a new leader to replace Joma Sison?
The Philippine National Police (PNP) intelligence has indicated the CPP is looking into three to five individuals that may replace deceased Sison as its new leader, an official said Wednesday.
PNP spokesman Police Col. Redrico Maranan said the agency is still studying the names and cannot yet divulge their personalities.
“Mayroon tayong mga personality na tinitingnan, kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay mayroong tatlo hanggang lima na tinitingnan, subalit sa ngayon, I am not in a liberty to divulge those names dahil patuloy pa nating pinag-aaralan,” he said in a public briefing.
(If I am not mistaken, we are looking at three to five individuals, but I am not at liberty to tell you those names because we are still studying them.)
Sison died at the age of 83 in a hospital in Utrecht, Netherlands, last December 16.
He lived in a self-imposed European exile ever since peace talks with the government bogged down in 1987.
According to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, Sison died due to “heart failure” after almost three weeks of hospital treatment.
No serious threat
The PNP is not receiving or monitoring any “serious threats” despite the death of Sison and the upcoming anniversary of the CPP on December 26.
However, the police force remains on high alert and is ready for any offensive launched by the New Peoples’ Army — the armed leg of the CPP, Maranan said.
“Sa ngayon, wala tayong natatanggap o namomonitor na seryosong banta, subalit kahit tayo ay walang natatanggap, tayo ay hindi magbababa ng ating pag-iingat at gwardiya. We will not let our guards down,” he said.
(For now, we are not receiving or monitoring any serious threat. Nonetheless, we will not let our guard down.)
The CPP earlier set a 10-day mourning period in honor of Sison, during which the NPA can “stage tactical offensives against the rampaging fascist forces to defend the people.”
The PNP, however, assured the public that it is ready for any offensives that the NPA may launch.
“Ito namang mga banta ay halos taun taon na ginagawa nila, dahil diyan, ang PNP ay laging nakahanda sa ganyang mga uri ng karahasan,” Maranan said.
(They give threats every year, that’s why the PNP is ready for any offensive.)
“Ang ating polisya ay handang handa kung anuman ang kanilang gagawin na karahasan, yan ay pipigilin natin upang maipagtanggol ang ating kababayan,” he added.
(Our police are ready for whatever they will do. We will stop any violence so that we can protect the public.)
No ceasefire
The PNP will also intensify its “defensive posture” in all of its ranks, considering there will be no holiday ceasefire between the government and the NPA.
“Patuloy tayong magpapatupad ng mga batas, paiigtingn natin ‘yung defensive posture ng ating police station at lahat ng ating mga kampo. Nakahanda tayo na kung anumang karahasan o violent incidents ang kanilang gagawin,” the PNP official said.
(We will continue enforcing laws and intensify our defensive posture in all our ranks. We are ready for any violent incident that they may launch.)
In the past, the military and the NPA would announce a ceasefire at this time of the year.
The CPP’s central committee earlier said there was “absolutely no reason” this time to declare a ceasefire.