Army Lt. Col. Preme Monta, spokesman of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) based in Tarlac, said New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas have lately been monitored in areas where some vital installations and other "soft targets" are located.
He said suspicious-looking armed men have been spotted in the vicinities of the Sual thermal power plant in Pangasinan, the Masinloc power plant in Zambales, the Pagbilao power plant in Quezon, and the Globe Telecom tower in Tarlac, among other areas.
Monta said villagers have tipped off the military about the presence of the suspected guerrillas.
Last Oct. 2, communist rebels clad in military uniforms set on fire the Globe Telecom switch center in Barangay Maliwalo, Tarlac City.
Monta said they believe that these power plants and telecommunications facilities are the NPA’s next targets "to create a chaotic atmosphere that is likely to impact on the Philippine economy, and as a whole to the leadership of President Arroyo."
Maj. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Nolcom commanding general, has directed Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division in Central Luzon, and Maj. Gen. Ericson Aurelio, commander of the 5th Infantry Division in Northern Luzon, to be more vigilant due to the NPA’s propensity to attack when least expected, Monta said.