FVR raps failed drive vs NPA, asks Estrada to resign

Former President Fidel Ramos reiterated yesterday his call for President Estrada to resign as he criticized the Commander-in Chief’s inability to deal with the renewed attacks of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the provinces.

"So many remote and even not-so-remote communities have become endangered species and vulnerable to a reinvigorated NPA, largely due to the President’s failure in leadership, vision, focus, coordination, prioritization and resource allocation," Mr. Ramos said in a statement.

He said a recent NPA raid in Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, where some 50 armed rebels swooped down on a town hall manned by a skeletal force of six policemen, dramatizes the sad state of public safety.

Most of the firearms and equipment of the Santa Fe police station, including nine high-powered automatic rifles and radios, were seized by the communist rebels in a daring noontime raid.

Mr. Ramos said the tactics used by the rebels – employing surprise, sudden attacks and a quick disappearance – are typical of several other raids in many towns in the last few months.

He said the raids have made local government officials, intelligence units, Army detachments and police stations off-balanced and bereft of pro-active courses of action.

"The bottom line, continuing, basic defect is the absence of effective leadership on the part of the Commander-in-Chief," Mr. Ramos said.

He said the President continues to be more of a liability than an asset, "a sorry role model of a Commander-in-Chief, who has failed to inspire our troops and civilian defenders in the field.

Mr. Ramos said the President should make the supreme sacrifice and resign immediately.