Malacañang assured the public that the Marcos administration has been implementing measures to prevent communist insurgents from committing further terroristic activities in Masbate following a series of clashes between them and security forces this week.

Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said this less than a week after President Marcos said he was now seeing the end of the government's half-a-century war with communist rebels.

Citing Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the Palace official said the military’s 9th Infantry Division (ID) and the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Regional Command in Bicol met at Camp Ola in Legazpi City last March 23 to increase police presence and visibility in schools affected by the activity of the New People’s Army (NPA).

The meeting was upon the directive of the President, Garafil added.

President Marcos sounded off his concern over the spate of violence in Masbate.

According to Galvez, the Philippine Army and PNP units in the area have intensified their operations against the rebels. Concerned military commanders are also coordinating with the police, the local government, and school officials on how to counter the rebels’ misinformation campaign.

The government is set to convene peace and order council meetings to address the current situation. It has also activated quick reaction teams to assist affected students, teachers, and the local population in Masbate.

“School officials were also briefed on how to react appropriately to a similar situation involving firefights or IED incidents in areas with close proximity to learning institutions,” Galvez said.

Citing the assessment of security officials, the Defense Chief said the recent attacks by the rebels were acts of desperation after a series of setbacks in recent clashes with government troops.

Galvez noted an emerging pattern among the insurgents of ambushing government forces and putting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in populated areas such as schools with little or no regard for the safety of students, teachers, and other civilians.

He said the insurgents were putting up tarpaulins for propaganda to lure the soldiers, knowing that government forces are on heightened alert due to the upcoming NPA anniversary this March 29.

Galvez reported that the rebels detonated IEDs in Placer and Dimasalang, Masbate, on Wednesday as soldiers removed the insurgents’ propaganda materials.

The 9th ID reported that, on Wednesday morning, two soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) were wounded in an encounter with more or less 11 NPA members at Barangay Locso-an in Placer town.

Bicol education officials said face-to-face classes have been suspended in elementary and secondary schools in four towns of Masbate province due to ongoing clashes between government forces and NPA rebels.