PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Sunday placed all police units and offices on heightened alert in anticipation of possible retaliatory attacks from members of the New People’s Army (NPA) following the killing of top rebel leader George “Ka Oris” Madlos in an encounter with security troops in Bukidnon.

The top cop also lauded the military’s effective internal security operations that led to the neutralization of Madlos during a gunbattle in Impasugong, Bukidnon last Saturday. The slain suspect has been described as a mmander and spokesman of the NCPP/NPA National Operations Command.

“The PNP is one with our brothers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in curbing the lawless activities and atrocities of the communist rebels that bring fear and terror to our communities. The entire PNP hails this successful operation as a big blow to the CPP/NPA/NDF,” Gen. Eleazar said.

“Kasabay nito, ipinag-utos ko sa ating kapulisan na mas maging alerto sa posibleng retaliatory attacks ng mga rebelde upang ipaghiganti ang pagkamatay ng isa sa kanilang matataas na pinuno.

Tinitiyak ko sa publiko na hindi namin ito hahayaan. Patuloy ang pakikipagugnayan namin sa AFP upang siguruhin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

The AFP reported that members of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade launched the operation after receiving information on the presence of rebels in Sitio Gabunan, Barangay Dumalaguing in Impasugong.

The military said the guerrillas planted anti-personnel mines in the area prompting soldiers to call for air support. The government troops then engaged more or less 30 heavily-armed NPA rebels in a firefight which resulted in the death of Madlos and a still unidentified colleague.

“Magkaiba man ang aming paniniwala tungkol sa pagtugon sa mga suliraning panlipunan ay personal kong ipinapaabot ang aking pakikiramay sa pamilya ni Jorge Madlos o Ka Oris,” said the PNP chief.

Gen. Eleazar said Madlos’ death should serve as a warning to remaining communist rebels that the government would not stop in their operations against the CPP/NPA/NDF.

“Nawa’y magsilbing eye-opener ito sa ating mga natitirang kababayang rebelde na hindi sagot ang pag-alsa at karahasan sa mga suliranin sa ating lipunan. Ang kailangan ay ang ating pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan bilang isang lahi, at bilang mga Pilipinong nagmamahal sa ating Inang Bayan,” he said.

The PNP chief also urged the remaining CPP-NPA-NDF leaders and members to surrender and avail of government programs so they could return to the mainstream of society and lead normal lives.

“Matagal na at patuloy ang ating pagkukumbinsi sa ating mga rebeldeng kababayan na magbalik-loob na sa pamahalaan at sa katunayan ay makailang beses na ipinaabot ng Armed Forces of the Philippines ang kagustuhang maipagamot si Ginoong Madlos matapos malaman na meron siyang iniindang problema sa kalusugan,” he said.

“Marami na sa ating mga kababayang rebelde na nagbalik-loob ang namumuhay na ngayon ng tahimik at normal at ito ay isang patunay lamang ng sinseridad ng pamahalaan na tapusin na ang problema sa communist insurgency,” Gen. Eleazar stressed.