PNP now on full alert vs. NPA attacks

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now placed on full alert status following the attacks allegedly perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao del Sur on Thursday. (Photo: Philippine National Police/ Facebook)

MANILA—The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now placed on full alert status following the attacks allegedly perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao del Sur on Thursday.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared an “all-out war” against the New People’s Army (NPA) after four policemen, who are non-combatants and technical personnel, were killed in an ambush purportedly committed by members of the NPA in Bansalan, Davao del Sur on Thursday morning.

President Duterte also ordered the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to use all their available assets to neutralize the NPA insurgents.

”Well, we have our mobile units in all provinces. Nakikita naman natin na etong marahas na pag-atake ng NPA sa ating security forces ang gagawin namin ngayon is take an active defense at the stations and have our mobile units continue to have active support to the AFP in going after terrorists and insurgent groups,” PNP Public Information Office (PIO) chief and spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in an interview in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday.

Carlos said the PNP has ordered the mobile units to conduct combat patrols in order to prevent the attacks so policemen in the towns and cities will be out of harm’s way.

He added that the PNP is now on active defense against any attacks.

”We will prevent any attacks on our police stations but again hindi naman pwede na kami ho ay titigil sa police station kailangan namin lumabas at tumugon doon sa serbisyo sa taong bayan so we will review the camp defense plan,” Carlos said.

”We will look at the information and intelligence info kung merong plano na maging target ay police station and then yung active patrolling ng ating mobile units para there will be at least a second or third layer of defense sa ating mga munisipyo at mga police station so normally yun naman po,” he added.

The PNP has units in the public safety companies and the RPSB (Regional Police Security Battalion), who were ordered to coordinate with the AFP available in the area in going after insurgent groups.

Carlos noted that the SAF (Special Action Force) troops were deployed in their different areas to help the territorial forces to run after the NPA.

If there is a specific mission, Carlos said, the SAF can also be deployed.

He stressed that the PNP has always been on full alert level since the bombing incident in a night market in Davao City last September 2 that claimed the lives of 15 civilians and injured 72 others.