LAW enforcers will take advantage of the dry season to attack communist rebels, Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa said Monday.
“This summer season, we are taking advantage of good weather to launch our own tactical offensive operations against the remaining guerrilla fronts in the countryside,” Dela Rosa said.
He said the intensified attacks on New People’s Army fighters will go hand in hand with the government crackdown on leftist “front organizations and support system.”
At the same time, Dela Rosa warned police commanders of possible NPA attacks during its 49th founding anniversary on Thursday.
He said the NPA may harass police posts and isolated government installations.
“While all PNP units are now… preoccupied with our public safety operations for the Holy Week, I am reminding all unit commanders to fortify community defenses and step up target-hardening measures in isolated police posts and government installations as a proactive measure against possible hostilities of the communist New People’s Army in the coming days ahead of its founding anniversary on March 29th,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa’s remarks drew criticism from opposition lawmaker Tom Villarin of the Akbayan party-list.
“Instead of an all-out peace regardless of weather conditions, the Duterte government has used the coercive powers of the state to wage a bloody war against a long-drawn insurgency that has taken roots because of poverty and injustice,” Villarin said.
Instead of peaceful and long-lasting solutions, the government has embarked on a “myopic, tactical and senseless war of attrition” that will result in more deaths and damage to property.
Earlier, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate welcomed efforts at the House to revive the stalled peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, with the support of 61 lawmakers.
“This is very encouraging and we are calling on the Duterte administration to heed this call for a just peace. We are also urging our other colleagues to also co-author the resolution as there is a more urgent need and reason now to continue the GRP-NDFP peace process in the midst of escalating clashes between the military and the communist rebels,” Zarate said.
“Peace negotiations should continue even if both sides have not yet ceased armed hostilities. That is precisely why peace talks must proceed because the two sides are at war. The no cease-fire, no peace talks policy being pushed by the militarist elements in the Cabinet practically negates the inherent purpose of a peace negotiation. It harks the nation back to Marcos’ failed military or militarist solution,” Zarate added.
In response to the House resolution calling for peace, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he will wait for President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to resume talks with the NPA.
“I will have to defer to the decision of the President if he wants to pursue the talks but the Defense Department will not approach the peace talks,” Lorenzanasaid.
In November 2017, Duterte signed Proclamation 30 ordering the termination of all peace negotiations and meetings with the NDFP.
The termination was an offshoot of the rebel attacks against civilians, and security forces.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, meanwhile, uerged the public to support the military and police by reporting suspicious activities in their communities.
“Our forces will continue to be on a proactive stance against all threats of violence and will exert every effort to preserve the peace in every locality. Your soldiers and policemen cannot do it by themselves. We call on our people to help in the preservation of peace in their community by reporting any suspicious individuals or activities in their surroundings,” the AFP said in a statement Monday.
Also, the military called on the public to refrain from joining public gatherings that are linked with the celebration of the NPA’s anniversary or any activity that is associated with any terror group.