ALL police measures are in place to thwart a possible offensive by the New People’s Army (NPA) during the rest of the Yuletide Season, Philippine National Police chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos said yesterday.

Carlos said he has alerted all 17 Police Regional Offices and the different PNP National Operational Support Units to heighten their vigilance against possible hostilities by the NPA on the eve of the 53rd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines last Sunday.

“The CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army are known to stage armed offensive actions to drumbeat commemoration of significant dates in the underground communist organization,” Carlos said.

“Historically, there are documented incidents of high-profile tactical engagements against government forces, and hostilities against soft targets launched by the CPP-NPA to mark the CPP anniversary every December 26th, and the NPA anniversary on March 29th,” the PNP chief explained.

Carlos bared he has placed the PNP Special Action Force, the PNP’s national maneuver force and all 17 Regional Mobile Force Battalions nationwide on the highest alert condition for possible rapid deployment and quick reaction to any contingency.

Also alerted were PNP units engaged in relief operations in the wake of simultaneous attacks staged by CPP-NPA terrorists on disaster response missions in Samar and Surigao del Sur at the height of preemptive evacuation operations for super typhoon ‘Odette.’

“This particular security concern is simultaneous with ongoing heightened security measures implemented nationwide by local PNP units throughout the holiday season as well as relief and rehabilitation operations in areas affected by typhoon ‘Odette,” he added.

In Bicol region, intensified counter-insurgency effort by the the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) and the Philippine Army in Bicol have resulted in a number of major accomplishments since last Christmas Day, the Journal Group learned on Monday.

PRO5 director, Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo, said two heavily-armed NPA members were killed in a gunbattle with patrolling officers from the Army’s 31st Infantry Battalion and the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office in Barangay San Ramon, Barcelona around 8:40 a.m. last Saturday, Christmas Day.

In a report to Carlos, the Bicol police director said the slain suspects were among an estimated 20 armed NPA rebels led by one Arnel Estiller alias ‘Ka Mando’ who engaged the security troops in a gunfight.

The 45-minute firefight left two still unidentified male and female guerrillas dead. Recovered from the two slain suspects who were abandoned by their fleeing comrades were two M-16 automatic rifles with two magazines containing several live ammunition, assorted personal belongings and other NPA documents and war materials.

No casualty was reported on the government side.

Estomo said he has ordered his men to continue checking hospitals and clinics in the province amid the possibility that some of the rebels wounded in the clash may seek treatment of their gunshot wounds.

The official said the guerrillas were known for operating in the municipalities of Barcelona and Gubat .

Around 3:15 p.m. last Chrismas Day, police and Army operatives in Bgy. Malaya, Labo, Camarines Norte also engaged a group of NPA gunmen in a gunbattle.

Estomo said the lawmen under Colonel Julius D. Guadamor captured one of the suspects identified as Roberto Pajarillo who turned out to be the subject of a warrant of arrest for direct assault with frustrated murder.

The official said two M-16 rifles with defaced serial numbers, two magazines containing 20 bullets, a laptop computer and a list of candidates who were believed to have already paid the NPA the so-called ‘Permit -to-Campaign’ Fees’ were recovered at the scene of the clash.

The PRO5 director also reported the surrender of eight NPA rebels who also brought in their weapons and ammunition to police authorities in Bgy. Bagacay in Mobo, Masbate.

The eight surrendered high-powered weapons consisting of a caliber .45 pistol, two rifle grenades, an M-16 automatic rifle, a cal. .38 revolver, a Garand rifle, a 9mm pistol, and dozens of assorted live ammunition.

Estomo said the eight NPA members surrendered following negotiations with officers of the Camarines Norte police force under Guadamor.

The eight are now being processed by the police amid their decision to return to the mainstream of the society and avail of the government’s comprehensive livelihood package for returning rebels, said the PRO5 director.