NEWSFLASH

GOVT FORCES ON FULL ALERT DURING HOLIDAYS

MALACANANG, December 23, 2002 (STAR)  Malacañang said the police and the military are prepared to thwart communist rebel attacks following the New People Army’s rejection of a unilateral government ceasefire.

"With or without any order for a ceasefire, our soldiers and policemen maintain alert elements to ensure the security of our countrymen so that we would have peace of mind," presidential adviser on the peace process Eduardo Ermita said.

President Arroyo declared on Saturday a truce on Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and on Jan. 1. The rebels had not reciprocated the move, calling it "plain and simple deception" and a publicity stunt of the government.

The government and the insurgents have observed ceasefires during the Christmas and New Year holidays in the past.

Ermita said the ceasefire would allow soldiers and police officers to celebrate the holidays with their families, criticizing the rebels for "not having the best interests of Filipinos in mind."

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the truce will remain in effect despite the rejection "but this will not prevent the government from defending itself against any attack."

"If the NPA does not wish to reciprocate this show of goodwill by the government then so be it," he said.

Hours after Mrs. Arroyo declared the ceasefire NPA guerrillas launched attacks in the northern and southern Philippines, the military said yesterday.

About 15 heavily armed NPA rebels attacked a detachment of government troops near the town of Santa Cruz in Ilocos Sur province on Saturday, triggering a gunbattle.

There were no immediate reports of casualties on either side from the attack, which the military said was an attempt by the rebels to retake an area they once controlled.

An NPA unit also robbed an Army officer in the southern province of Agusan del Sur. Lt. Christopher Salimbangaon was harassed but left unharmed by the rebels.

Meanwhile, three NPA guerrillas were killed and two others were wounded in a clash with police in Caraga town in Davao Oriental province.

Chief Superintendent Isidro Lapeña, Southern Mindanao regional police commander, said the rebels appeared to be waiting for a delivery of supplies when the police, tipped off by local residents, arrived.

The NPA is the 9,000-strong armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been declared a terrorist organization by the US and European Union governments.

Peace talks between Manila and the insurgents have been suspended since last year, when the NPA gunned down Congressmen Rodolfo Aguinaldo of Cagayan and Marcial Punzalan of Quezon. — Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado, AFP

Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi