Reds go back to old deadly tricks — PNP

From The Standard (Feb 23): Reds go back to old  deadly tricks — PNP

The Philippine National Police said the New People’s Army has reverted to its old guerilla tactics to boost its weapons’ arsenal by way of  killing cops and snatching  their firearms (“agaw armas”).

PNP Chief Ricardo Marquez said this  NPA tactic came to the fore after the rebels  launched a series of  killings of   policemen in the countryside  and even urban centers which left eight cops  dead  and a dozens of others wounded and their issued firearms taken this week.  

“In the past, that’s the way they demonstrate it. They’re still a force to  reckon with,” Marquez said.  

NPA rebels in Cagayan staged  a daring ambush  on a police convoy responding to a distress call from a project construction manager after rebels torched  equipment at the outskirts of Baggao town and killed  six policemen.  

Two days  later, NPA rebels waylaid a police prowl car responding to a stabbing incident in Negros Occidental killing two policemen.

 Marquez advised policemen to observe the rules and safety procedures in responding to crime situation and other forms of distress calls that could be a ploy by NPA rebels.  

He said the Cagayan incident could be  a form  of extortion by the NPA against legitimate businessmen.

As  to the possible resurgence of NPA hit squad,  Marquez  said they have not seen any indication  that NPA rebels have been resorting to “’agaw-armas,” but reminded field policemen, particularly in urban centers, to be on the alert.

Marquez said he would  fly to Cagayan to  find out  whether police officers have committed lapses in the province in relation to the ambush in Negros island.

“We have deployed a security investigation team there, but the investigation is not yet completed. We will check if operational lapses were committed by our units on the ground so that we will learn from our experiences,” Marquez said.

http://thestandard.com.ph/news/-main-stories/200022/reds-go-back-to-old-deadly-tricks-pnp.html