Military forces in Metro Manila go on highest alert

By Ronron
February 13, 2008

The military unit in Metro Manila went on full alert Wednesday evening after the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ordered the New People’s Army (NPA) to intensify its offensives in the light of the alleged corruption in the Arroyo government bared by Rodolfo Lozada, Jr.

National Capital Region Command spokesman Capt. Carlo Ferrer said the full alert status, which directs all forces to be on duty, was effective 7pm yesterday.

“Said alert is not only because of the scheduled rally on Friday itself, but because of intelligence reports that the CPP/NPA will take advantage of the situation and will deploy their members in the NCR to infiltrate the ranks of the rallyists, and that they (NPA) may cause other destabilization activities to create confusion among the people and an atmosphere of chaos in NCR,” Ferrer said.

The CPP, in a statement early yesterday, urged their colleagues in the legal front “to muster the strength of several hundred thousands up to millions of the Filipino people and launch all possible forms of protest actions and movements in the National Capital Region and across the country to eventually cause the downfall” of the Arroyo government.

It said that their armed comrades have also been instructed to “further intensify tactical offensives in the next few weeks and months to help further weaken the Arroyo regime and contribute significantly to its ouster.”

“The CPP enjoins the Filipino people to wage revolutionary struggle to put an end to the entire reactionary ruling system. In the final analysis, only by waging and achieving victory in their revolutionary struggle can the Filipino people put a decisive end to the entire rotten, corrupt and repressive ruling system,” the CPP said.

Ferrer urged the organizers of the rally on Friday “to police their own ranks so they will not be infiltrated and will have an orderly and peaceful mass action.”

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, for his part, said that the declaration of the CPP “just shows the true color of the CPP-NPA.”

“They are going to ride on an issue like this to pursue their overall intention of grabbing power, and add to the worries of our countrymen,” he said.

“But the Armed Forces of the Philippines is ready to address the call of the CPP-NPA for intensified attacks. We are ready,” Bacarro said./DMS