Police in ‘high state of vigilance’ vs NPA ahead of CPP anniversary

Ahead of the 49th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on December 26, the Philippine National Police (PNP), alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), has shifted to the offensive stance against the communist group’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

“The PNP high command has mobilized all its tactical and maneuver units for a coordinated offensive alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines against remaining guerrilla fronts of the communist New People’s Army,” the PNP said in a statement on Sunday.

The PNP leadership said it has also alerted all PNP units “to maintain a high state of vigilance against possible hostilities by the CPP/NPA.”

According to Police Director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, PNP Director for Operations, based on historical data, “the CPP/NPA is known to stage hostilities such as raids, ambuscades, and sabotage on isolated government posts and vital installations to highlight significant events in the terrorist movement.”

In a Memorandum circulated among Directorates for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO), Police Regional Offices (PRO), and National Support Units (NSU), Cascolan said police units and personnel should initiate countermeasures against possible attacks by the CPP/NPA, and to observe individual safety and security against hit men.

“Offense is always better than defense,” Cascolan said.

“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 added.

Cascolan also directed commanders to sustain and beef up law enforcement, security and safety activities.

The memorandum also instructed PNP units to assume a tactical and legal offensive stance by conducting all out operations in coordination and cooperation with the AFP, and to maximize utilization of technological capability and tools recently acquired by the PNP.

Last December 5, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a proclamation declaring the CPP and NPA as terrorist organizations following the foiled peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).                        /kga

READ: Duterte declares CPP, NPA as terrorist organizations