Military braces for CPP anniversary attacks

MANILA, Philippines - The military is bracing for possible atrocities by communist insurgents to mark the 43rd anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Monday.

Intelligence Service chief Brig. Gen. Cesar Ronnie Ordoyo said yesterday the military would intensify its monitoring to ensure public safety.

“Even if they (rebels) have declared their SOMO (suspension of offensive military operations), we will not of course put our guards down,” Ordoyo said in Filipino.

He said the ceasefire would not prevent the soldiers from defending themselves against rebel attacks.

Last Monday, the CPP announced that it would implement a ceasefire with the government.

The truce declared by the rebels, however, is shorter than that of the government as it would only be in effect from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 and on Dec. 31 to Jan. 2.

The government’s truce took effect last Dec. 16 and will be in effect until Jan. 2.

The CPP has ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to “cease and desist” from conducting offensive operations against government troops.

The CPP said the truce was declared to “provide opportunity to the revolutionary masses to join various activities” to mark its anniversary.

NPA units were ordered to be in defensive mode and to remain vigilant against “any encroachment on the territory of the people’s democratic government.”

Ordoyo said the insurgents are planning to continue their atrocities against “soft targets,” including firms that are vulnerable to their extortion campaigns.

“(The rebels) will continue their attacks against the subjects of their extortion activities like mining companies,” Ordoyo said.

Ordoyo said the communist rebels might pressure businesses to give them money during this season. “We are prepared for it,” he said.

Latest military data show that the NPA extorted close to P100 million last year and P1.5 billion since 1998 from investors and politicians. The usual targets of rebels are mining and logging companies, and plantations.

The rebels declared a ceasefire after conducting two offensive operations against state troops in Surigao del Sur that left six people dead.

The attacks were conducted during the duration of the government’s 18-day unilateral ceasefire.

On Dec. 16, the rebels attacked soldiers conducting development projects in Tandag City. The attack claimed the lives of five soldiers.

The second attack happened last Monday in Bislig City, resulting in the death of a 63-year-old woman and the wounding of seven soldiers.

A day after the CPP announced the truce, NPA rebels fired at soldiers performing community work in Las Navas, Northern Samar.

The attack happened last Dec. 20 and was directed against members of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion. One soldier died and another was wounded in the incident.                     – With Dino Balabo