PNP suspects arms-grab tactic in recent NPA offensive

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is convinced that the recent series of attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) on government forces is part of the communist movement’s activities to collect more firearms.

In a statement on Friday, PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said the rebel offensive was part of the NPA’s “Koda Supermarket,” a robbery-extortion plot to raise the rebels’ profile ahead of the Communist Party of the Philippines anniversary on Dec. 26.

Albayalde ordered police commands across the country to vigorously stop “raids and ambuscades on targets of opportunity … aimed at collecting more firearms and equipment from police and military targets.”

‘Lawless terror’

The latest attacks under this supposed tactic was the torching of equipment of the Philsouth Construction in Manjuyod town, Negros Oriental, on Thursday night, and the ambush on Food and Drug Administration officials in Camarines Sur, also on Thursday, which left three policemen dead.

“We condemn these latest acts of lawless terror against symbols of government authority. We mourn the loss, but assure the ends of justice will be served,” Albayalde said.  —JAYMEE T. GAMIL