Police on high alert ahead of NPA’s 50th anniversary
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Police Regional Office in Zamboanga peninsula (PRO-9) has placed its police forces on high alert status to thwart any possible attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA), which celebrates tomorrow, December 26, its 50th founding anniversary
PRO-9 Director Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis D. Licup yesterday ordered all police provincial and city directors to adopt target hardening and strengthen security measures in all vital government installations, including undermanned municipal police headquarters.
Licup asked all police field units under their jurisdiction to be on alert and vigilant to thwart any attempt from the communist group to disrupt peace in the community.
Licup also ordered all personnel to adopt the necessary counter-measures “to strengthen defenses of ‘soft targets’ and avoid being caught flat-footed in case of enemy actions.”
According to Licup, based on historical data, the CPP/NPA was known to launch tactical offensives to commemorate the founding anniversary of the local communist movement every 26th of December.
The NPA traditionally marked its anniversary with atrocities to underscore that the Communist movement was still a force to reckon with, he said.
Communist rebels in Region 9 are under the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee, and they are concentrated in the three provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Sibugay.
Licup said Secom Feliciano A is operating in four municipalities of Zamboanga del Norte, Secom Feliciano B – operating in four municipalities of Zamboanga Sibugay, SYP Kara – operating in nine municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur, Secom Joji – operating in four municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur and Secom Sendong.
Licup cited some of the atrocities committed by the CPP-NPA in the region included the burning of construction equipment at the construction yard of the CTS situated at Sitio Milaned, Talinga, Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte on May 13 this year and the torching of heavy equipment owned by Ramona Construction at Purok-1, Barangay Licabang, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur among others.