PNP on alert for NPA rites

The Philippine National Police (PNP) goes on high alert beginning today in anticipation of attacks from the New People’s Army (NPA), which is celebrating its 38th founding anniversary tomorrow.

Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Garcia, chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations, said the heightened alert, which takes effect at 6 a.m. today nationwide, is also meant to prevent rebel groups from taking advantage of the Lenten season from April 1 to 7 to sow violence.

"There is no specific threat but we have to prepare for any eventuality," Garcia said at the weekly Talakayan sa Isyu ng Pulis (TSIP) forum.

Garcia explained that a heightened alert means half of the 119,000 policemen nationwide – including 198 new graduates from the Philippine National Police Academy – will be on duty.

Communist rebels traditionally carry out sporadic attacks on civilian and military targets during the anniversaries of the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to dramatize their devotion to armed struggle.

Garcia said security plans include deploying policemen in areas near churches where large crowds are expected during the Holy Week.

PNP chief General Oscar Calderon earlier ordered regional directors and police operational support unit commanders to map out a comprehensive security plan for the Holy Week.

"The communist insurgents may take advantage of the occasion by harassing police stations or attacking vital government installations to embarrass the government," Calderon said.

"We have to intensify our security activities because we cannot let this happen," Calderon said.

The PNP chief also ordered the strict enforcement of Bantay Lakbay 2007, a public assistance program, which involves assisting motorists and travelers and keeping peace in areas frequented by tourists.

Ready for poll violence

The PNP expects political rivalry to heat up, or erupt into violence, as candidates rush to meet tomorrow’s deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy for local positions.

But PNP chief Calderon said the police are prepared and well-trained to help ensure peaceful and honest elections on May 14.

He said the election in May "promises to be the most peaceful elections ever, owing to the political maturity of the Filipinos, and the institutional safeguards for transparency and order that have been put in place."

"My fearless forecast is that the May 2007 elections will be regarded in history as the cleanest and most orderly polls the country ever had in recent years," Calderon noted.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. also stressed the preparedness of the police in dealing with a volatile election climate.

"Our field units are prepared and ready to respond to any situation to preempt and prevent politically motivated violence in their respective areas," Pagdilao said.

Since the start of the election period last Jan. 14, the PNP has seized 1,289 firearms, 66 explosive devices, and 232 different types of deadly weapons. The PNP has also arrested 1,373 violators of the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections nationwide.

"The security measures we have laid out through checkpoints, chokepoints, preventive patrol, and interdiction operations have significantly reduced the instruments of violence that can possibly be employed during the elections," Calderon said.

"The PNP will have its hands full in this election because we will single-handedly assume the responsibilities and election duties of the AFP," Pagdilao said.

"We have upgraded our alert and increased our vigilance against foreseen flashpoints and situations that can lead to possible outbreak of election-related violence," Pagdilao said.

New appeal to NPA

President Arroyo renewed her call for communist rebels to lay down their arms and "cease their mindless murders" and instead participate in the country’s democratic process.

In her speech formally opening the "Publish Asia 2007" at the Manila Hotel, she stressed the Philippines remains the most democratic nation in the region despite "a sorry history of political violence."

"It must be said that the Communist Party (of the Philippines) and their armed insurgents must also put down their arms and cease their mindless murders. The Philippines is the most democratic country in the region. I have no tolerance for human rights violations," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Her security officials earlier called for the outlawing of the CPP.

The communist insurgency has claimed the lives of over 40,000 since the early 1970s. The government and the National Democratic Front have been engaged in on-and-off peace talks since 1987. Negotiations with the Arroyo government collapsed in 2005 after the NDF, expecting Mrs. Arroyo’s downfall, withdrew from the talks saying it would wait for the next administration.

Mrs. Arroyo said she is determined to break the cycle of political violence once and for all but the continued atrocities of armed insurgents are making the task extremely difficult.

She deplored unexplained killings whether carried out by left or right, especially against journalists.

"Indeed there is much to do if our nation is to work toward a more modern, just and prosperous nation and the press has its share of the task," Mrs. Arroyo said.

NPA pact with candidates

Aside from so-called Permit To Campaign (PTC) fees, the NPA is offering "election victory package" to national and local candidates in exchange for future commissions in government projects.

Brig. Gen. Nestor Sadiarin, commanding general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS), said NPA rebels vowed to deliver votes for favored candidates and they want to be repaid through kickbacks in government projects.

"Once our candidates fall into this rebel trap, they will be forever beholden to the insurgents," Sadiarin warned.

Citing seized rebel documents in Labo, Camarines Norte, Sadiarin said the rebels appeared to have already conducted the necessary profiling activities on national and local politicians.

"Whoever wins, they (NPAs) will knock on their doors again to demand commitments for future projects. This is MOE (Monthly Operation Expenses)," Sadiarin warned. He added the NPA leadership has also raised the PTC rates for incumbent candidates.

For re-electionist candidates in the House of Representatives and politicians vying for a gubernatorial seat, the rebels’ rates range from P300,000 to P500,000.

The rebel’s PTC rate for the vice gubernatorial seat ranges from P50,000 to P100,000.

On the city level, the rebels are charging candidates for mayor from P100,000 to P300,000; vice city mayor and city councilor, P10,000 to P50,000. Candidates who refuse to pay are threatened with "arrest."

"They plan to intimidate the public from attending political rallies. If they could not prevent this, they would directly bar candidates from campaign in certain areas, thus denying them (candidates) the audience and the place where they could campaign," he said. — Paolo Romero and Jaime Laude