(Eagle News) — The Philippine military said it is stepping up security measures Wednesday until the year-end in anticipation of possible hostile actions to be conducted by the Communist Party of the Philppines’ New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) which is celebrating its 50th founding anniversary today, December 26.
Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva, Army spokesperson, said that the Philippine Army, “with its entire operational and tactical units have already stepped up its security measures to prevent and contain further possible enemy hostile actions.”
He said that the NPA usually marks its anniversary with violence.
“The series of violent incidents perpetrated by CTs (communist terrorists) are clear manifestations of their insincerity about the peace process and clear disregard to the welfare of the people,” Villanueva said.
The military official noted that these actions of the communist rebels contradict “the peace agenda that they are trying to sell to the government and the people.”
He said that there had been attacks reported “wherein some of our peace defenders got wounded, while some offered their lives.”
The Philippine Army, he said, is however committed to ensure that there is security and tranquility for the people during the holidays.
The CPP was formed by Jose Maria Sison on December 26, 1968, and has been fighting a guerilla war since then. It is considered a “terrorist group” by President Rodrigo Duterte after NPA attacks on soldiers, policemen, and civilians during earlier peace talks forcing the Philippine government to entirely call them off.