N. Luzon troops brace for ‘sympathy attacks’

La Trinidad, Benguet – Police and military forces in the region are on high alert for possible “sympathy attacks” by communist guerrillas as government troops pursue marauding separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Mindanao.

Maj. Gen. Melchor Dilodilo, commanding officer of the 5th Infantry Division based at Camp Upi in Gamu, Isabela, said they are anticipating New People’s Army (NPA) attacks on military and police detachments and vital facilities such as transmission towers of telecommunication companies in Northern Luzon.

Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin, Cordillera police director, said his men are prepared to thwart any rebel attacks.

For his part, Dilodilo said, “Our troops are on alert to counter any attempt by the NPAs.”

Maj. Rosendo Armas, spokesman of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command, said though the communist rebels would launch attacks “not actually to sympathize (with the MILF), but to take advantage of the issue.”

“Nobody will sympathize with them after the killing, burning and other inhumane acts against innocent civilians,” Armas said.

Communist rebels in the Cordillera region earlier said their stepped-up attacks in the region in the past weeks were against foreign mining interests.