Troops told to exercise caution when out of camp

The AFP official also said the military is enjoining all peace-loving Filipinos to report any suspicious-looking stranger in their community whose presence is unusual. (PNA file photo)

MANILA — Military personnel, whether outside camps or on vacation, should always exercise caution in foiling possible attacks of the New People’s Army (NPA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato said Tuesday.

“Time and again, the AFP leadership and field commanders have reminded troops of personal safety and to always exercise caution whenever outside camp or out on pass or vacation. Personnel are also reminded to be in contact with the nearest police or AFP unit in the area where they live when they are on R&R (rest and recreation). Whenever possible, (the) buddy system is required in places where there is a high security risk,” Detoyato said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) when asked to comment on what the AFP can do to prevent communist rebels from targeting military personnel and civilians sympathetic to the government.

The AFP official also said the military is enjoining all peace-loving Filipinos to report any suspicious-looking stranger in their community whose presence is unusual.

The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization in the United States and the European Union.

“We are also reminding non-state actors CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) that are tasked as ‘SPARU’ (Special Partisan Unit) that they have to stop violating the provision of IHL (International Humanitarian Law) that provides protection to non-combatants and civilians from harm of being victims of senseless killings,” Detoyato said.