AFP won't declare red alert during NPA anniversary

MANILA, Philippines - The military will not place its troops on red alert during the anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Thursday even as it vowed to remain vigilant to thwart possible atrocities by the rebels.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa has given field commanders the discretion on whether to upgrade their alert status.

A red alert places all soldiers on standby and would entail the cancellation of all leaves.

Such alert status is intended to ensure the availability of manpower to respond to emergency situations.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines will not raise its alert level to red but will maintain its vigilance and step up its intelligence monitoring and collection efforts in strategic parts of the country especially in Metro Manila,” said AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr.

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, will celebrate its 43rd anniversary on Thursday.

Maj. Emmanuel Garcia, deputy public affairs chief of the AFP, said the rebels usually stage violent activities to commemorate their anniversary.

He said the soldiers are ready to respond to the security risks posed by the insurgents.

The military also did not declare a red alert during the NPA anniversary last year.

Burgos said the military would continue to work with the police through the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Centers to enhance security measures.

“The AFP is always geared up and prepared to thwart or respond to any threats while at the same time initiating proactive undertaking to secure the safety and wellbeing of the citizens,” he said.

The military also expects the rebels’ allies to display streamers, posters and wall paint to boost the morale of NPA members.

Burgos said the NPA rebels had committed 43 violent activities in the days leading to their anniversary in 2011. The incidents had claimed the lives of nine members of security forces, 12 rebels and seven civilians.

Burgos said the rebels committed two atrocities during the actual day of their founding anniversary last year.

These are the harassment of an Army patrol base in Monkayo, Compostela Valley and a CAFGU (Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit) detachment in Bugang, Negros Occidental, which left a 14-year-old civilian dead.

“The NPAs continue to conduct violence and atrocities such as harassments and attacks against soft targets to ease pressure in their traditional territories,” Burgos said. 

“The NPAs would like to project that they are still a force to reckon with by attacking soft targets, capitalizing on private establishments and companies to extort money and harassing remote CAFGU detachments,” he added. 

The military claims that the NPA strength has declined to 4,043 as of end-2011, compared to 4,384 recorded in 2010.