PNP On Yuletide Full Alert; No Muzzling Of Guns

Just like in previous years, there will be no muzzling of police firearms this year as the Philippine National Police leadership expressed confidence that PNP members are disciplined enough not to use their guns during the holiday revelry.

“Every policeman, including all of the armed services, should be responsible enough not to use their firearms because that is very dangerous,” PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

He also warned there would be no mercy shown to police caught indiscriminately firing their guns, and that immediate supervisors of erring police officers would also be held accountable.

Also, as part of its security measures during the Yuletide season, the PNP will go on full alert status at the start of the nine-day Simbang Gabi or dawn masses this Friday, Dec. 16.

“I directed all of our police forces for them to be visible in churches where there will be Simbang Gabi,” Azurin said.

All vacation leaves of police officers are cancelled by Thursday, Dec. 15 to maximize police visibility.

Even before the start of the Simbang Gabi, Azurin already instructed all their commanders to beef up their presence in convergence areas by deploying at least 85 percent of their police officers on the streets during the Yuletide season. Police officers on Christmas break are also required to report to the nearest police station so they could be mobilized in case of emergency.

The PNP also placed on full alert status the Special Action Force and all 17 Regional Mobile Force Battalions nationwide to thwart possible attacks by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which will mark its 54th anniversary on Dec. 26.

No truce for now

Noting that no recommendation for a Christmas and New Year ceasefire has been made so far and it is now being “ruled out,” the military called on remaining members of the New People’s Army (NPA) yesterday to go home to their families, reflect and consider laying down their arms this holiday season and start anew in 2023.

“I am not aware of the recommendation. The most that we can do is to declare SOMO (suspension of military operations) and move to active defense, especially in areas where the insurgents are already weak,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said.

According to him, the matter of a ceasefire with the NPA for the Christmas and New Year celebrations “is not being discussed yet, and the CPP (Communist party of the Philippines) is suffering from leadership crisis after the neutralization of many of its national leaders.”

“In short, there is no one to negotiate with, and the Party has no capability to impose it (ceasefire). The most that we can offer is SOMO, especially in areas where they are already weak,” he explained.

Aguilar said the AFP “prays for the enlightenment of the CPP cadres that reforms have taken place in our government and in our society. It is time for them to abandon armed struggle and disband the NPA.”

“We pray that the insurgents will also be allowed to go to their families and think about their future,” he added, repeating his earlier hopes that NPA members would still get the chance to spend time with their loved ones during the holidays.

“We hope that come New Year, their resolution will be to abandon armed struggle and all forms of violence that destroy human lives and properties,” Aguilar said.

He earlier revealed that NPA’s strength has been significantly reduced as the military and the national government continue efforts to end the country’s decades-old insurgency problem.

“Their capability to mount terror has been significantly weakened. They are in disarray with the neutralization of many of their leaders,” Aguilar said.

“Who can assure us then of their compliance? The NPA can go home for Christmas. I pray that they will abandon armed struggle as their New Year’s resolution,” he added.

The AFP said there are now only five remaining active NPA fronts owing to sustained military operations coupled with the promise of a more peaceful life with financial and other benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or ECLIP for former rebels.

The military claims to have significantly reduced the enemy’s strength over the past years.

“With the remaining 24 guerilla fronts, 19 of which are weakened and inactive, this leaves the Communist Party with five fronts to pursue its violent means of achieving political objectives,” Aguilar earlier said.

Quoting information revealed by former rebels, he told The Philippine STAR that a guerrilla front usually has 60 members led by a secretary and an intelligence, health, finance, education and political staff. Aguilar said four of the remaining active NPA guerrilla fronts are operating in Samar while one is operating in Mindanao.