MANILA -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa reminded policemen to be on alert in line with the country's observance of the Holy Week and the forthcoming 49th anniversary of the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
"While all PNP units are now presently preoccupied with our public safety operations for the Holy Week, I am reminding all unit commanders to fortify community defenses and step-up target-hardening measures in isolated police posts and government installations as a proactive measure against possible hostilities of the communist New People's Army in the coming days ahead of its founding anniversary on March 29th," Dela Rosa said Monday.
The PNP chief explained that the communist group is known to launch offensive actions to drumbeat commemoration of significant events in the underground organization.
"I am instructing all PNP Regional Directors to put in place all necessary countermeasures to strengthen defenses of "soft targets" and avoid being caught flat-footed in case of offensive enemy actions. This summer season, we are taking advantange of good weather to launch our own tactical offensive operations against the remaining guerilla fronts in the countryside, complemented by continuing legal offensive actions against CPP-NPA front organizations and support systems, particularly CPP-NPA personalities who are wanted by the law for criminal offenses," he added.
Dela Rosa said police units are likewise instructed to double efforts in launching offensive operations against the local insurgents through mobilizing the Barangay Information Network (BIN) and other intelligence sources in the community to deter CPP-NPA hostilities.
Aside from full alert status, the National Capital Region Police Office deployed 11,871 policemen all over Metro Manila to address any emerging security issues and threats this Holy Week and summer vacation. Deployed cops are tasked to focus on target hardening measures, secure places of convergence, transportation hubs and terminals, as well as to secure and monitor routes security.
On the other hand, 24,887 force multipliers composed of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPATs), security guards and members of Non-Government Organizations volunteered groups commit to support and help the police in monitoring and securing peace and order situations.
NCRPO Regional Director, PDIR Oscar D Albayalde, ordered all District Directors and Station Commanders to sustain the implementation of war against illegal drugs and criminality, strengthen police visibility, Police Assistance Desks (PADs) and other pre-emptive measures while the public are observing the Lenten season.
The public is encouraged to report untoward incidents immediately to the nearest police stations or through the following hotlines: NCRPO 838-3203 text hotline: 0915-888-8181, 0999-901-8181; National Emergency Hotline – 911, Itaga mo sa bato – 2286, Northern Police District 285-2396 / 285-2838/287-3717, text hotline: 0905 – 454 – 2547, Eastern Police District 641-0171/ 641-0877, text hotlines: 0917 – 728 – 3790, Manila Police District 523-1367/ 523-3378 text hotlines: 0919 – 995 – 0976 / 0917 – 899 – 2092, Southern Police District 519-5525 / 519-8644 text hotline: 0908 – 377 – 0025, Quezon City Police District 925-8417 text hotline: 0917-861-1870. (PNA)
