PNP, Army say rebel forces could merge

From The Daily Guardian (Dec 11): PNP, Army say rebel forces could merge

THE Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army in Panay are monitoring possible consolidation of rebel platoons as the 50th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Dec 26, 2018 nears.

Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police chief, said they remain on full alert to thwart any possible atrocities from the New People’s Army (NPA), the CPP’s armed wing.

Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot Jr., 61st IB commander, said they are anticipating that small NPA platoons would merge to conduct harassment activities.

In fact, both Bulalacao and Magbalot believe that the group that Army troops encountered in Janiuay, Iloilo on Dec. 9 could have been planning to mount attacks in central Iloilo.

There was no body count but Magbalot believed that some rebels were injured, if not killed in the clash.

Soldiers recovered two M16 Armalite rifles, four improvised explosive device (IEDs), seven backpacks with personal belongings, an NPA flag, a laptop, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Authorities believed the rebels are up to something with the recovered IEDs.

“The encounter yesterday shows that there is an active movement of NPA in the area,” Bulalacao said.

Aside from being on guard for the NPA anniversary, Bulalacao said the rebels have planned to get even with the police after the deaths of seven ranking NPA Komiteng Rehiyon Panay in Antique province on Aug. 15, 2018.

“They are just looking for the opportune time to attack the police stations. This is one of the reasons why we are still on full alert status,” he said.

Meanwhile, Colonel Alberto Desoyo, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, said they have yet to analyze subversive documents recovered during the encounter.

But he believed that it would cripple the ongoing NPA’s tactical offensive plans.

The CPP has declared a temporary unilateral ceasefire for the Holidays and for their 50th year anniversary.

The CPP announced that its armed wing, the NPA, and people’s militias were ordered to cease and desist from undertaking offensive military operations starting 12:01 a.m. of December 24 until 11:59 p.m. of December 26, 2018, and from 12:01 a.m. of December 31 until 11:59 p.m. of January 1, 2019.
But Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier said it is not likely to reciprocate CPP’s declaration.

https://thedailyguardian.net/local-news/pnp-army-say-rebel-forces-could-merge/