NPA is worse threat than destabilization plots against government, says PNP chief

By Ronron
June 27, 2005

The threat imposed by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) is worse than the on-and-off destabilization plots against the government, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Arturo Lomibao said Monday.

This admission came as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also announced yesterday that the NPA remains the number one threat to national security despite the reported decrease of its strength.

In an interview with reporters at Camp Crame, Lomibao said the entry of the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), in the mainstream society is more disastrous than any other groups.

"As we very well know, the entry of the armed elements of the left will not be very good for the situation on the peace and order, especially if they will be able to infiltrate the ranks of the other so-called legitimate opposition," Lomibao said.

Though there is no imminent threat, Lomibao said the PNP is watching out because "they (NPA) will always seize the initiative if they can see a revolutionary situation."

"That (take-over the government) has always been their dream, or their vision. So we are tying to watch out," Lomibao said.

Lomibao said a take over by the communist group is also more dangerous than the civilian-military junta being floated by the opposition in politics.

According to the AFP, the NPA has reduced to 7,709 in strength as of June 2005, 6.44 percent lower compared to the December 2004 figure of 8,240.

"But the NPA remains the number one threat to national security," AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual told reporters in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.

Quoting AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Rear Admiral Tirso Danga, Pascual said the decrease can be attributed to the military’s sustained internal security operations, infighting within the group, and disgruntlement from field fighters who particularly complain of not receiving their financial support.

"The NPA recruitment is down. They are having leadership problem. A lot of the communist terrorists have lied low and are disgruntled over corruption within their organization," added Pascual.

The military spokesman also noted the unusual silence of CPP Spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, who is also the commander of the NPA’s Melito Glor Command that operates in the Southern Tagalog region.

Rosal was last sighted at the boundary of Camarines Norte and Quezon provinces last month during a military operation.

Yesterday morning, elements of the Philippine Army’s 16th Infantry Battalion seized an NPA camp after an encounter with the rebel group in Sitio Malatulan, Barangay Sablang in General Nakar town, Quezon.

Pascual said the government troops chanced upon some 20 NPA members in the area at around 6:30 am, ensuing a 30-minute firefight.

No casualty was reported on the government side while it is believed that the rebel group sustained an undetermined number of casualties who were brought along by their fleeing comrades.

The soldiers recovered later an enemy camp in the area with 25 bunkers and three M16 rifles loaded with live ammunitions./DMS