THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has no plan to suspend police operation against communist rebels this Yuletide season.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. said they are more inclined to pursue measures that will defeat the communist insurgency, including localized peace talks and operations against the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Defense and security analysts earlier said there are no other leaders in the CPP-NPA hierarchy who is fit to replace Jose Maria Sison who died last week in a hospital in the Netherlands at the age of 83.
“The death of Joma Sison and the forthcoming anniversary of the local communist movement, the PNP is not inclined to recommend a Suspension of Police Operations (SOPO) this holiday period,” said Azurin.
“We’d rather proceed with continuous law enforcement and public safety operations against violations of law, and maintain an active defense posture against possible terrorist actions and criminal activities,” he added.
The CPP, which is founded by Sison, is set to celebrate its 54th anniversary on Dec. 26. The CPP anniversary is sometimes marked with attacks on government troops and installations.
In Nothern Samar for instance, five soldiers from the Mobile Community Support and Sustainment Program (MCSSP) team of the 20th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army were wounded in an ambush allegedly perpetrated by local communist rebels on Sunday, Dec. 18.
Last week, Azurin alerted all police units against possible attacks from the communist rebels.
Azurin said police territorial forces in Northern Samar and adjoining provinces have been alerted to conduct checkpoint operations to intercept the fleeing suspects, while mobile patrol teams are searching local hospitals and clinics for possible wounded suspects seeking treatment.
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