WHILE Catholics all over the country are expected to observe beginning on Sunday the Christian tradition of Jesus Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, the Philippine National Police (PNP) began on Friday to place all of its police units in Luzon and the Visayas under heightened alert.
PNP Spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo said the alert status covered Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B and 5 in Luzon; and Regions 6, 7 and 8 in the Visayas.
“Regional directors in these areas are given the discretion to elevate the alert status of their offices/units, depending on the developing and emerging situation in the respective areas of responsibility,” he said.
All six Mindanao-based Police Regional Offices, however, remain under full alert condition in response to the prevailing security situation in their areas, Cerbo explained.
He said commanders have been reminded to maintain security in vital installations and economic key points, as well as places of convergence and ensure high state of operational readiness to deter criminal activities and thwart any hostile actions that may be launched by threat groups.
“PNP units in insurgency-affected areas were also alerted against possible rebel-initiated hostilities in connection with the 46th founding anniversary of the communist New People’s Army on Palm Sunday, March 29,” Cerbo said.
He said the communist guerrillas are known to launch armed hostilities and offensive actions against government and military personnel and elements as part of celebrating their foundation anniversary.
But the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Friday it is prepared for any offensive by the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
We are working closely with the PNP in monitoring the NPA and in taking preemptive measures to thwart their plans, such as mounting violent attacks against government installations, according to a statement issued by the AFP.
Earlier, AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said that units based in non-threat areas can grant leave to their personnel wanting to go home this Holy Week.
However, this condition cannot be applied to provinces and areas with intact threat groups, like the NPA.
Areas in the Philippines known to be hosting NPA groups include Masbate, Sorsogon in Southern Luzon and Kalinga in Northern Luzon; Leyte, Eastern and Northern Samar in the Visayas; and Caraga Regions and Compostela Valley in Mindanao.
(With PNA)