Joma Sison could order anew the NPA to attack government posts and private installations – PNP

By Ronron
September 14, 2007

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has alerted its men for possible attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) now that communist leader Jose Maria Sison is again capable of allegedly ordering for it.

PNP Directorate for Operations chief Director Wilfredo Garcia told reporters in Camp Crame Friday that it is possible Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), could issue again an order to its armed fighters in the country to carry out more offensives.

“The probable impact (of his release) is Joma Sison could order for a widespread offensive against the police and armed forces, and that is what we are preparing for,” Garcia said.

“We are making necessary preparations for our police stations, as well as cellsites, towers, plants, which they also attack,” he added.

Sison was released last Thursday by the Dutch police after the judge hearing his case found insufficient evidence that he ordered the killings of former communist rebel leader Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara in 2003 and 2004, respectively, in Quezon City.

The case filed by the widows of Kintanar and Tabara prompted the arrest of Sison last August 28.

Garcia said the office of the National Security Adviser is now addressing the security requirements for these widows, as well as other witnesses.

Asked if the PNP will raise again its alert level to full status because of Sison’s release, Garcia said: “We will not raise it anymore because we have not received a confirmed information that there will actually be a massive offensive of the NPA.”

After going on full alert status a few days ago due to several upcoming events, particularly the handing down of the verdict against former President Joseph Estrada, the PNP downgraded on Thursday afternoon its alert to heightened level, except for Metro Manila and the Special Action Force, sensing the normalcy of the prevailing situation.

As to the case of Sison, Garcia said the PNP respects the decision of the Dutch government to release him even as he maintained that the evidence the PNP shared with the Dutch police and prosecutors are strong enough to pin Sison down.

“We are confident in so far as our evidence against Joma is concerned. Only, it could be that the standard of the Dutch government’s appreciation of our evidence is different from the standard we are using in the Philippines,” Garcia said.

“But on the part of the Philippine government, if they need additional evidence to further strengthen the case, then we will try to help,” he added.

The Dutch authorities began investigating the case against Sison in November of 2005, and it was immediately followed by frequent visits to and communication with the PNP starting January 2006 until July of this year for evidence gathering./DMS