AFP braces for attacks on NPA's 42nd anniversary

The military on Sunday said it is prepared for guerrilla attacks that the New People’s Army (NPA) may stage this Tuesday, March 29, in relation to the communist group’s 42nd anniversary. "We are prepared for any eventuality, we are prepared for the attacks," said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo. NPA rebels traditionally launch attacks on government targets to mark their anniversary. Mabanta, however, said they are not keen on putting all troops on red alert — the military’s highest security status. But he said Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban has ordered soldiers to take prompt actions to preempt possible attacks by the rebels. "The instruction is to intensify intelligence operations and conduct preemptive measures. The instruction is to step up intelligence monitoring and to initiate action to thwart a terrorist action emanating from the communists," he said. Mabanta maintained that as far as the military is concerned, the NPA is no longer a threat to national security but only to national development. Military records show that the estimated NPA membership is at an all-time low of 4,000 as of end of 2010, from a peak of more than 20,000 in the '80s. "They have lost their relevancy. They are not anymore a threat to security considering their minimal number and strength, but rather a threat to development. Their strength has been drastically reduced," the military spokesman said. Mabanta said that despite the NPA’s dwindling strength, the government still has to pursue peace negotiations with the communists "no matter how small and no matter insignificant they are." The NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) are represented by the National Democratic Front (NDF) in the peace negotiations. Formal peace negotiations between the government and the communists resumed last February, seven years after the NDF withdrew from the negotiating table to protest the inclusion of the CPP and the NPA in the US list of foreign terrorist organizations. - KBK/VS, GMA News