(By Gail Momblan)
PROPAGANDA. Members of the Philippine National Police remove streamers put up by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in line with its founding annivesary in Tubungan town, Iloilo on Dec. 26. The government forces in Panay on Saturday (Dec. 21, 2019) assured they will be on alert against any harassment of the rebels during the holidays. (Photo courtesy of Iloilo Police Provincial Office)
ILOILO CITY -- The Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police have intensified the fight against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), which aims to have its presence felt during the Holiday season in Panay.
The CPP-NPA, founded in 1969, is expected to mark their anniversary on December 26 with harassment and violence, Lt. Col. Joel Benedict Batara, Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion’s (61IB) commander said in an interview Saturday.
As early as December 16, the rebels put up in Iloilo’s Tubungan town several streamers hailing their 51st anniversary. These, however, were immediately taken down by the local police.
Batara said this action was a “desperate move” of the rebels wanting the public to know and feel their presence.
“We also saw their leaflets saying “61st (IB) berdugo”. They want to be noticed, but us in the Army is continuing our intensification against the CPP-NPA,” Batara said.
He said the troops are on alert because the rebels might attack anew Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment and police posts this holiday season.
“There are also checkpoint operations that we are conducting with the police,” he said.
Lt. Col. Joem Malong, Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) spokesperson, meanwhile assured on Friday that the police also maintain their ground against the rebels.
Malong cited the last week’s encounter in Libutan village, Borongan City, Eastern Samar where a police officer and five others were hurt in an ambush allegedly by the suspected CPP-NPA members.
“We are expecting that they would be conducting the same because they conducted series of activities already. We are not relaxing, especially on the areas where there are higher threats or are prone to insurgency,” she said.
The areas identified to have threats from the rebels are the towns of Miagao, San Joaquin, Igbaras, Tubungan, Leon, Alimodian, Maasin, and Calinog in Iloilo and Tapaz in Capiz.
Malong said police stations are target hardening to prepare against any atrocities of the rebels.
“We put physical barriers, and of course we maintain maximum security posture and defense post,” she said.
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.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089288
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