PANGASINAN -- The Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Northern Luzon (DIPO-NL) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) have vowed to crush all communist rebels and put an end to the decades-long communist insurgency problem in Regions 1,2,3, and in the Cordilleras.

Dubbed as Joint Campaign Plan “Natalna II,” the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to ensure the synergy of military and police efforts in addressing the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), criminal elements, and private armed groups in the Northern Luzon regions through close cooperation and interoperability.

DIPO-NL Director Maj. Gen. Ferdinand B. Daway said that "through this endeavor, the AFP and PNP 's iron-clad partnership is being formalized from the area level down to the grassroots.This will be the game changer in our quest for a safe and terror-free society."

He reaffirmed their commitment to President Duterte’s order for the AFP and the PNP to complement each other’s efforts to end local communist armed conflict.

PRO3 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Valeriano T. De Leon , PRO2  Regional Director Brig. Gen.  Crizaldo Nieves , PRO1  Regional Director Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr,  and the AFP Joint Task Force Commanders also affirmed their solidarity in crushing the insurgents.

Red alert

Government troops are now on red alert to thwart all possible attacks that will be launched by the New People's Army (NPA) for the Yuletide season even as the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ordered its armed units to carry out "secret meetings and assemblies" to mark their 52nd founding anniversary on December 26.

In a "Laging Handa" press briefing on Wednesday, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. allayed public fears and said the AFP and PNP  have already been implementing intensified security measures to ensure the safety of the people.

The CPP's Central Committee announced that it will conduct tactical offensives against government troops since President Duterte did not declare a holiday ceasefire with them.

"Talagang red alert ang AFP at PNP. Kung mayroon mang banta ang CPP-NPA ay ano bang bago? Dati na silang nandyan at mayroong armas (The AFP and PNP are on red alert. If the CPP-NPA really poses a threat, what's new with that? They have been there before while bearing firearms)," Esperon said.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Duterte must have realized the insincerity of the Reds so he decided not to declare a truce with them.

"Iyong mga ceasefire kasi noong mga nakaraang taon, sila lang ang lamang eh (The ceasefires in the past years were taken advantage of by them ). They can resupply, they can refurbish, they can regroup. They can again go to the barangays and recruit members so huwag na natin pag-usapan ang ceasefire kung ganoon ang ginagawa nila (let us stop talking about the ceasefire if that's what they are doing)," Lorenzana said in the sidelines of the AFP's fleet review and flyby in Morong, Bataan.

According to the CPP Central Committee, they are "forced to dispense with the traditional holiday ceasefire this year" since Duterte refused to declare a truce with them.

"Units of the NPA are hereby ordered to actively defend the masses and themselves against the attacks of the AFP and frustrate the enemy's armed offensives and plans to terrorize the masses during these holidays. They can carry out tactical offensives especially against attacking troops of the enemy," the CPP Central Committee said.

At the same time, the CPP Central Committee urged all of its Party committees, NPA units, and mass organizations "to carry out secret meetings and assemblies" to mark their upcoming 52nd anniversary. 

But Esperon said it was the CPP-NPPA that should prepare since all security measures were already put in place to prevent the enemies of the State from launching attacks against the military, police, and civilians.

"They should be prepared for that. Kung mayroon silang gagawing kaguluhan ay nakahanda ang ating mga tropa (If ever they decide to launch attacks, our troops are prepared)," he said. 

Traditionally, the government and the CPP-NPA announce ceasefires during the holiday season but this setup changed this year when Duterte said that he would no longer declare a truce with the Reds until his term finishes in 2022.

Both the government and the CPP-NPA have been accusing each other of violating the ceasefire by attacking their members. (With a report from Martin A. Sadongdong)