Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered on Tuesday, June 8, all policemen to be alert on possible attacks of the New People's Army (NPA) following three separate ambushes of the communist rebels in Bicol and Quezon province.
“I have already ordered all police units and our personnel to be alert on possible NPA attacks in their respective AORs (Areas of Responsibility). I also expect police commanders to intensify the monitoring and intelligence-gathering against this communist armed group,” said Eleazar.
In Masbate City, a college football player and his uncle died in a roadside bombing and subsequent gun attack of the NPA. In Legazpi City, four civilians, including a lawyer, were injured when communist NPA rebels ambushed a group of policemen who responded on the burning of a telecom cellsite.
In Masbate City, a college football player and his uncle died in a roadside bombing and subsequent gun attack of the NPA. In Legazpi City, four civilians, including a lawyer, were injured when communist NPA rebels ambushed a group of policemen who responded on the burning of a telecom cell site.
In Buenavista, Quezon, a militiaman was killed while another one was injured when communist rebels ambushed a group of government forces who were on their way back from a gift-giving activity.
Eleazar said that three separate attacks in Masbate City, Legazpi City and Buenavista town in Quezon are clear indications that an order was issued to the NPA to step up their attacks to project strength amid the series of mass surrender of communist rebels and their supporters.
“They are already affected by the series of mass surrenders of their fighters and supporters in the past months. That is why they were carrying out these attacks to make it appear that they are still strong," said Eleazar.
Eleazar said that part of his instruction is to ensure that the police station defense plan is activated especially in areas where communist rebels are known to operate.
He added that chiefs of police should also coordinate with the local military forces in their areas for augmentation of personnel in case of any eventuality.