Cops knew about NPA lightning rally – NCRPO

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) knew beforehand about the lightning rally staged by around 500 members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Manila Thursday, a police official said yesterday.

NCRPO chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said Manila Police District intelligence operatives shadowed the group as they staged the rally at the busy intersection of Rizal and Recto Avenues, causing a traffic jam in the area.

“We are aware of the rally as they have the penchant of staging lightning rallies anyway,” he said.

Valmoria clarified that the NPA members and supporters were not carrying guns and admitted that the MPD failed to make any arrests.

Earlier, Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ public affairs office, said there was nothing wrong with the lightning rally of the NPA and their supporters.

“This is a free country. They can express their beliefs publicly for as long as they do it in a peaceful way,” said Zagala.

Being a communist is no longer a crime in the country, Zagala said, noting that what is illegal is when the members of the NPA, the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front bear arms during public assemblies.