The government on Tuesday warned the public to be vigilant amid reports that communist rebels will begin a terror campaign in the urban areas to take advantage of the Christmas season.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, would launch operations to assassinate people who do not submit to their will as they mark their 51st year on Dec. 26.
“The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has received reports that the communist-terrorist CPP-NPA have operationalized their Special Partisan Units to conduct assassinations and terrorist activities in the urban areas to take advantage of the Yuletide season,” Esperon said in a statement.
He said security forces had been advised to take appropriate countermeasures against the “sinister threat.”
The rebels, he said, were growing “more desperate to stem the tide and cling to whatever dwindling influence they have left.”
“We advise the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or strange activities in your area to the proper authorities,” Esperon said.
“It is incumbent upon all Filipinos to unite and ensure the safety of our loved ones and communities, especially this Christmas and as we welcome the new year.”
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte assured the Armed Forces of the Philippines of his “unqualified support” as they fight to defeat terrorism and the communist insurgency.
During the 84th anniversary celebration of the AFP, Duterte asked the soldiers to remain committed in their duty as the “primary force in realizing lasting peace and sustainable development across our country.”
“I assure you of my unqualified support, especially as we continue our fight to defeat terrorism and violent extremism, end the insurgency and address the lingering and emerging threats to our national security,” Duterte said in his speech.
“Our enemies are the terrorists, the NPAs, those who kidnap people for ransom in Jolo, the Abu Sayyaf. My order is when you fight, eradicate them to end the suffering of Filipinos.”
Duterte also expressed confidence that the AFP would fight corruption within its halls through internal reforms.
The President also praised the soldiers for being in the forefront of humanitarian and disaster response in times of natural and man-made disasters, aside from securing the peace.
“If there is an earthquake, they are present. If there is flooding, they are present. If a volcano erupts, they are the first ones who will come. If there is a landslide, they will dig the land. If there is disorder, they establish order,” Duterte said.
“The dependability and reliability of the AFP have been recently tested after the series of earthquakes that rocked Mindanao and the storm and flooding that inundated [parts] of Luzon and in some areas in the Visayas.”