NPA founding looms; Cordillera cops placed on heightened alert

 

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet –Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Isagani Nerez ordered regional police to up alert level, conduct patrols and take extra security precaution in anticipation of  attacks by New People’s Army rebels as the communist group’s founding anniversary approaches.

 
Nerez said the NPA will celebrate its 46th founding anniversary on March 29 and it is expected that violent activities such as attacks on government forces could be done as the rebel group’s traditional manner in celebrating the occasion. 

He said attacks have been recently perpetrated by these rebel groups in different areas of the country such as Ilocos Sur, Davao City, Bukidnon, and Cordillera resulting to killings  and wounding of government troops. 

Nerez urged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines -NPA in Cordillera to lay down their arms, abandon armed struggle and return to the comfort of their families, assist and help the police and other law enforcement agencies in bringing peace and order in the region. 

 “We assure the public that the PNP is on top of the situation and together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will remain relentless in maintaining peace and order in the country,” he said. 

A regional police office press statement urged the public’s support in denying the rebel group activities and provide  timely information on any presence of the NPA in their locality.