All police units have been reminded to stay alert and vigilant as there would be no holiday ceasefire between the government and the communist movement this year.
Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, made the call yesterday, a week before Christmas and the 52nd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on December 26.
“The CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) is known to launch high-profile hostilities to drumbeat commemoration of significant dates in the underground movement over the past five decades,” he added.
Sinas also said the recent rash of hostile actions initiated by the CPP-NPA-NDF is all part of that long vicious cycle and a 50-year tradition of violence of the local communist movement.
He reminded all police field units to maintain a defensive security posture amid the latest series of CPP-NPA-NDF hostilities against government personnel, isolated government installations, and civilian communities mostly with the use of landmines, long outlawed by international conventions for use in warfare.
Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte declared that the ceasefire with the communist rebels as “dead” and said that he was forced to walk away from “peace talks” after the CPP and its political wing, the NDF asked for the formation of a “coalition government”.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
Meanwhile, over 18,000 police personnel and force multipliers have been deployed all over Western Visayas to provide maximum security during the Christmas season.
The public information office of the Police Regional Office Western Visayas said 5,407 police personnel in various police units and 12,651 force multipliers were deployed starting Wednesday until January 3.
“We deployed enough number of PNP personnel to strengthen police visibility, especially in highly urbanized areas in the region,” Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda, PRO 6 director, said in a press statement.
They are tasked to secure churches, transport terminals, seaports, malls, and other places of convergence from the threat of terrorism, criminal groups, and other individuals, who may take advantage of the situation, and at the same time, they will strictly impose maximum health protocols to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Orders were also issued to unit commanders for the consistent implementation of protocols this holiday season, like social gatherings and Christmas parties. “We would like to encourage every one of their cooperation while celebrating Christmas amid the pandemic,” he said.
The PRO 6 also put up a Christmas Tree of Hope in front of its Administration Building recently.
This is for personnel to hang their individual stars containing yuletide wishes and prayers. Each Christmas stars to be hooked on the tree is worth P10, and the proceeds will be given to St. Therese- MTC Colleges Student Executive Council and the whole “Theresian” community in support of their outreach program to the less fortunate families and their children.*PNA
