Bato bares pre-Sona attacks by NPA

FILE – New People’s Army guerrillas, the armed wing of the Maoist rebels, stand in formation during the turn-over ceremony of captured government soldiers to officials and peace advocates in the hinterlands of Matanao town, Davao del Sur province, in southern island of Mindanao on April 19, 2017. AFP PHOTO / MANMAN DEJETO

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa warned on Thursday of pre-State of the Nation Address (Sona) attacks by communist rebels but assured that the police force is prepared for them.

Dela Rosa said that he has ordered the immediate distribution to police units, particularly in areas infiltrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) fighters, of some 2,900 guns and ammunition donated by China.

At a press briefing at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Dela Rosa said, “I have already directed the commanders, aside from being vigilant and pro-active, to operate in coordination with the Philippine Army if there are NPA sightings.”

He revealed an alleged plan by the NPA to step up its attacks until  President Duterte delivers his Sona on Monday.

“There will be pre-Sona atrocities (committed by the NPA) nationwide, particularly in provinces where there are NPA sightings and presence is not too heavy.  Those areas will be reinforced by other NPA rebels to create trouble there,” the PNP chief disclosed.

But he assured, “I have directed all my ground commanders to be aware of this plan.”

Dela Rosa likewise said that he has ordered fast-tracking the distribution of 2,900 rifles and millions of ammunition from China to police units assigned in areas with a high presence of NPA rebels.

Dela Rosa identified the provinces in Southeastern and Northern Mindanao as areas infested by NPA rebels.  Other areas with NPA presence are the Cagayan Valley region, particularly Quirino Province; as well as the provinces of Samar, Leyte, and Iloilo in the Visayas.

“I have directed that these be immediately issued so our policemen can fight well,” he remarked.

“I want them (policemen) not to get beaten. Not to allow themselves to be overrun. They have to fight. I have asked that the rifles be given to them so they will have a big fighting chance to repel NPA attacks,” the PNP chief said.

The Chinese government donated last month 3,000 rifles and 6 million pieces of ammunition for three kinds of rifles: sniper; automatic; and high-precision. The assistance to the Philippine government, intended to boost the country’s anti-terrorism efforts, costs 50 million renminbi (around P370 million).