NPA rebels to mark 45th anniversary with '21-gun salute'

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet  – New People's Army guerillas all over the country will mark the group's 45th founding anniversary on March 29 by  firing their guns in the air.

A 21-gun salute, a common military tradition, vows the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), will mark the anniversary in undisclosed locations all over the country.

This however, the CPP said, will be done by NPA guerillas where it will be applicable and situations allow.

The 21-gun salute, the CPP statement said, is a tribute to all martyrs of the NPA and the “national democratic revolution.” 
“Ang kanilang mga sakripisyo at walang pag-iimbot ay iniambag nila sa sambayanang Pilipino sa pagkamit ng malalaking tagumpay sa paglulunsad ng kanilang pambansang demokratikong rebolusyonaryong pakikibaka,”  the statement said ahead of the March 29 NPA anniversary being monitored by the government for possible attacks on the heels of the capture of two CPP high ranking leaders in Cebu.

The anniversary celebrations in “guerilla zones”, which the CPP earlier claimed in December as around 135 all over the country, will be marking “victories” of the rebel movement in four decades such as ousting two “reactionary regimes ( Marcos' and Estrada's)”.

On March 29, all regional, sub-regional  and front command of the NPA including village militias will do a military formation and parade the CPP, NDF, and NPA flags. - Artemio A. Dumlao