(Eagle News) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that its whole force would be on high alert after the latest declaration from Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leadership of intensified offensives against government forces and other civilian targets following the extension of martial law in Mindanao.
PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said that latest order from CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison to the New People’s Army showed that the communist leadership was not serious about their earlier declaration of a unilateral ceasefire this holiday season.
“The latest order of Joma Sison of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) exposed the culture of lies, deception and violence of the aging underground movement in its 50-year rebellion to wrest power from government anew,” the PNP chief said in a statement.
Albayalde said that “the CPP/NPA has found a convenient excuse in the Congressional approval of the martial law extension in Mindanao as reason to stage further hostilities against government and civilian targets.”
This was “even as it earlier declared a farce five-day (holiday) ceasefire to trick government into reciprocating the CPP/NPA sham gesture of goodwill,” he said.
“We urge our people to maintain vigilance and not be intimidated by this vain attempt by the CPP/NPA to salvage its waning reputation and regain lost support of the masses that they continue to terrorize and oppress,” he noted.
Albayalde said that there are at least 10 police mobile strike forces which have already been deployed to 10 provinces in Eastern Visayas, Negros Island and the Bicol Region.
He said these police forces have linked with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to further strengthen community defenses against the NPA rebels.
The CPP-NPA’s ceasefire is scheduled to start at 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 24 to 11:59 p.m. of Dec. 26, and at 12:01 a.m. of Dec. 31 to 11:59 p.m. of January 1 next year.
Earlier, both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP had rejected calls to also declare a holiday ceasefire following the NPA declared a unilateral truce.
