AFP says NPA's plan to deploy partisan units in cities a ‘desperate measure’

From CNN Philippines (Jan 5, 2021): AFP says NPA's plan to deploy partisan units in cities a ‘desperate measure’

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday called the plan of the New People’s Army to deploy partisan units in urban areas a “desperate attempt” to prove that the communist rebels are still a force to reckon with.

In a statement last week, the Communist Party of the Philippines quoted its founding chairman as saying there was a basis for the conduct of “armed partisan operations in the cities.” These should counter the attacks from the AFP, Philippine National Police, and other paramilitary forces against unarmed activists and civilians in urban areas, the group said.

CPP information officer Marco Valbuena said separately there has been a standing order for the NPA “to form partisan teams to mete out punishment against enemy units and officers who have committed bloody crimes against the people.”

"Ito ay isang desperate measure or attempt upang sabihin nila na they are still force to reckon with. Na sila ay dapat paring katakutan ng kababayan natin," AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said.

[Translation: This is a desperate measure or attempt to show that they are still a force to reckon with, that our countrymen should still be afraid of them]

Arevalo added the formation of partisan units justified the Anti-Terrorism Council’s designation of the CPP and its armed wing NPA as terrorist organizatiions because what they are doing is a clear terroristic act against the people.

Terrorist designations made by the ATC only allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the assets of those tagged. Those designated can only be proscribed or outlawed by the Court of Appeals.

For his part, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement on Tuesday that the five NPA rebels killed in a shootout with military forces and police officers in Baras, Rizal last month “were part of a death squad that was supposed to carry out the directive of Joma Sison to assassinate government and civilian leaders.”

Two of the fatalities were a certain Sandra, allegedly an NPA staff, and some Onli, who was said to be an NPA intelligence officer, he said. Citing the AFP, Año added that the three others who died in the encounter were still being identified.

In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte walked away from peace negotiations with communist rebels as both sides accused each other of ceasefire violations.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/1/5/AFP-on-NPA-partisan-units.html