Police forces in Metro Manila were placed on highest security alert and defense status in anticipation of possible major attacks of communist rebels in the metropolis following President Duterte’s order to scrap the peace talks with the New People’s Army (NPA).
Director Oscar Albayalde, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said he also instructed his commanders and those in the intelligence community to intensify gathering information to thwart any plan to bring the rebel attacks in Metro Manila.
“In line with the cancellation of the peace talks, we in the National Capital Region maintained full alert status,” said Albayalde.
“I also directed all police units to strengthen their target-hardening measures and camp defense, and for intelligence operatives to intensify intelligence-gathering efforts on the movement of the communist rebels,” he added.
Albayalde stressed the need to continuously monitor the movement of the communist rebels in order to preempt any of its plan to carry out attacks in Metro Manila, especially against policemen who are among the rebels’ favorite targets.
The ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels through the National Democratic Front of the Philippines turned sour when the latter lifted its ceasefire after failing to get some of their demands.
This resulted in the series of attacks on government troopers. The death of the soldiers prompted Duterte to withdraw the ceasefire it declared with the rebels.
The impasse, however, triggered another twist when Duterte ordered the arrest of NDFP consultants who were earlier freed as a confidence-building measures of the government for the peace talks.
While the communist rebels usually stage their attacks in the provinces, the NCRPO leadership said it is not taking any chances, what with the arrest of some communist rebels in Metro Manila. (AARON B. RECUENCO)