Police on full alert for possible rebel attacks

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON PALO, LEYTE, Philippines  — No less than the PNP regional director here said that the entire PNP force has been placed under full alert all over the region and ready to repel any rebel attack on the occasion of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army 42nd founding anniversary on March 29, 2011.

Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla ordered police field units to prevent the rebels from carrying out attacks as the NPA has traditionally launched tactical offensives to commemorate the CPP-NPA's founding anniversary.

"Our best hope for the ceasefire to hold is for the CPP-NPA leadership to be able to effectively exercise command and control over all its lower units across the region, we actually expect more possible NPA atrocities, like abduction, raids of police stations and liquidation of our government troops," Revilla said

The most recent NPA truce violation was an ambush where rebels detonated land mines Saturday morning in a remote village in Arteche, Eastern Samar, killing Insp. Al Tantiado and wounding three other policemen. Mayor Rolando Evardone survived the said attack.

Three M-16 rifles were seized by the NPAs during this attack.

Revilla said that to ensure the safety of their personnel and the government installations, they have to come up with some schemes in defense personnel security measures in the field.

"This is in preparation for the March 29 anniversary we don't want our personnel to be placed in a situation where they will be surprised if ever there are plans by the NPA to conduct their own terroristic activities," Revilla said, although he acknowledged they have yet to receive reports of possible attacks.

Revilla also revealed that the police authorities in Eastern Samar are now preparing for the filing of criminal charges against Rodencio Deo, alias "Red", the said vice commander of the Rado Platoon of Front 4 under the Northern Samar Front Committee.

"We are supporting the military troops in the region and conducting our security preparation…we are ready for them. We see that many [rebels] have been neutralized, some have been surrendering. We expect that their numbers will go down, yet we have to be prepared (for) any other possible NPA attacks," Revilla said. (FREEMAN)