By Jennifer P. Rendon
Philippine Army and police units all over the region were told to be alert and remain vigilant as the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will celebrate its 54th founding anniversary on Dec 26, 2022.
Attacks against government forces, installations, and other key economic points are things that the hierarchies of the 3rd Infantry Division and Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 are expecting.
“That has been their usual plan that’s why I told the troops to always be on the alert and for them to remain aggressive in running after these armed terrorists,” Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3rd ID commander, said adding, “we hit them first before they hit us.”
This, Arevalo added, had been the trend for the past months that’s why the troops had a series of encounters, especially in Negros Island.
For Arevalo, the death of CPP-NPA founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison is immaterial whether the rebels would go slow or would go all-out in their offensives.
“It does not matter to us because we will always go all out against them regardless of whether Joma is dead or alive. We will continue running after these armed terrorists in order to prevent their atrocities. Our mission continues even with the death of Joma,” he said.
Meanwhile, Police Major Mary Grace Borio, PRO-6 spokesperson, said the PNP is prepared for any attack or any untoward incident related to the CPP anniversary.
“For 54 years of going against the government, trying to topple it down and destroy the peace and progress of our country, communism in the Philippines is geared towards its eventual end,” she said.
Through the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC 6), the whole-of-the-nation approach to combat communism in the country is gaining its grounds, he said.
“With the death of their founding leader, Jose Maria Sison, the government forces are optimistic that we will win this battle and let our countrymen live in peace,” Borio said.
