AFP, PNP heighten alert on CPP Day

CEBU, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command and the Philippine National Police are placed under full alert status in preparation for the founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army on March 29.

Under the AFP's red alert status since March 22, the camp will have a hundred percent attendance of all personnel from different units in Regions 6, 7, and 8.

Police Regional Office-7 director, Chief Superintendent Danilo Constantino, said they are prepared for any possible retaliatory attacks from the rebels following the arrest Saturday of the Tiamzon couple, two of the CPP-NPA leaders.

He said that the capture of the Tiamzon couple can lead to attacks by the rebels.

Lt. Jim Alagao, Centcom spokesperson admitted that among the three regions, only the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor are declared insurgency-free.

Priority areas include Samar, Negros Occidental and some parts of Iloilo under the 8th Infantry Division.

Alagao said that even before the arrest of the Tiamzon couple, their security has always been intensified.

Constantino explained that the full alert status requires all police personnel to be at their offices and police stations while police units are required to conduct security operations in coordination with the AFP.

He said there are reports in other provinces on the presence of armed elements of NPA.

He said they are not discounting any possibility that retaliation may happen in Cebu and Bohol, thus, advising the provincial directors to intensify their intelligence monitoring of movements of armed elements.  —  (FREEMAN)