PNP on ‘high alert’ after Duterte calls off truce with NPA

DENNIS JAY SANTOS / INQUIRER MINDANAO; INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered the lifting of the suspension of all operations against the New People’s Army.

In a memorandum issued by PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Sunday, all units of the PNP have been ordered to be on “high alert” after President Rodrigo Duterte decided to call off the unilateral ceasefire he declared last July 25 against the communist rebels.

READ: Duterte calls off truce

“A lifting/withdrawal of Suspension of Offensive Police Operations against the CNN (CPP/NPA/NDF) is hereby declared nationwide effective immediately today,” the memorandum read.

“All office/units must be on high alert and continue to discharge their normal functions and mandate to neutralize all threats to national security, protect the citizenry, enforce the law and maintain the peace in all areas of responsibility,” it added.

On Saturday, Duterte recalled his ceasefire order after the 5 p.m. ultimatum he gave lapsed without reply from the communist insurgents.

“Let me now announce that I am hereby ordering for the immediate lifting of the unilateral ceasefire that I ordered last July 25 against the communist rebels,” Duterte said in a statement coursed through Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza.

The President ordered all government forces to continue performing their functions to “neutralize all threats to national security.”

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria Sison said that the communist rebels were supposed to declare a ceasefire at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

READ: Sison: CPP-NPA-NDF supposed to declare ceasefire at 8 p.m.

Duterte declared the ceasefire with the communist rebels during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 25. JE/rga

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