PNP to resume offensive vs NPA

From the Business Mirror (Jan 1): PNP to resume offensive vs NPA

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will resume on Saturday, its offensive operations against the New People’s Army (NPA) as its 10-day cease-fire with rebels will expire at 12 midnight on Friday.

Based on the monitoring of the PNP, its unilateral cease-fire with the guerrillas managed to hold as no incidents of attacks or harassments of police personnel by rebels across the country was recorded by the national headquarters.

A police official in Albay was shot and killed early this week, reportedly by armed men, while he was manning a checkpoint. The case was still being thoroughly investigated in order to determine if it was perpetrated by the rebels.

However, the deputy chief of police of the Libon Municipal Police Station, was conducting the checkpoint in support of a law-enforcement operations to serve a warrant of arrest against one of the most wanted persons in Albay.

The military reported that the NPA greeted its own unilaterally declared cease-fire with the government by harassing soldiers who were involved in humanitarian assistance and disaster-response operations in Surigao del Sur on December 23. PNP Chief Director General Ricardo Marquez ordered the suspension of offensive police operations (Sopo) against the NPA that began on December 23 in deference to the country’s observance of Christmas and the New Year.

“As part of the yearly tradition, the Sopo is observed and respected by all units and personnel of the PNP that refrain the troops from initiating offensive police operations against the NPA,” PNP Spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said.

However, the Sopo does not cover normal law- enforcement operations including the service of warrants of arrest.

Despite the cease-fire, Marquez ordered all policemen to be still on guard against possible attacks by the rebels.

“Recognizing the inherent right to self-defense, all units still remain on guard and maintain a high state of operational readiness to respond to any hostile actions,” he said.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/pnp-to-resume-offensive-vs-npa/