By Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
MANILA — With communist rebels poised to celebrate their 50th founding anniversary on Dec. 26, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday advised the public to take the necessary security precautions and remain vigilant for possible attacks by the terror group.
“The AFP advises the Filipino people to take extra caution and remain vigilant against attacks from terrorist group Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as part of their founding anniversary specially that Mr. Joma Sison has ordered them to escalate attacks and violence during this Christmas Season,” military public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato, said in a message to the Philippine News Agency.
The NPA, the rebel group’s armed wing, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.
“The threat of heightened atrocities marks another year of violence and manifests their nature as a terror group that works to undermine the government, disrupt national development, and damage public and private properties — all to the inconvenience of the Filipino people,” Detoyato said.
And with only atrocities to show for their 50th year of existence, the CPP-NPA-NDF has nothing to celebrate and no achievement to be proud of, he stressed.
“Our soldiers on the ground and at all levels of command will continue to monitor and conduct security operations against the CPP-NPA-NDF. We are ready to secure any community threatened by them specially during this season of christmas celebration,” the AFP official added.
Also, Detoyato reminded rebels seeking to return to their families and the mainstream society that their lines of communications are always open for surrenderees.
“Our lines of communication are also open to those who wish to take this opportunity to abandon the armed struggle and violence perpetrated by the CPP-NPA-NDF and embrace a life of peace and prosperity with their family,” he said.
