PNP still on alert vs terror threats amid pandemic
SECURITY forces are doubling their effort to prevent attacks by local terror groups including the New People’s Army amid the current pandemic, Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar assured the public on Saturday.
He made the assurance after Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said that local terror groups are only worsening the effects of the pandemic through their extortion activities, attacks against humanitarian missions and even killings.
“We have been intensifying our presence in communities to deter these hostile groups from causing trouble. Subalit, may pagkakataon na nakalulusot ang mga grupong ito, gaya ng mga rebeldeng CPP/NPA na nangha-harass ng mga humanitarian missions para sa mga apektado ng pandemya at iba pang kalamidad,” Eleazar said.
“Sa kabila nito, patuloy ang PNP sa pagsugpo sa kanila upang mapigilan ang mga ganitong insidente. Ang PNP ay katuwang ng AFP sa pagbabantay sa mga komunidad, lalo na iyong mga lugar na madalas salakayin ng mga rebeldeng komunista,” he added.
The top cop said all concerned police units remain alert for attacks despite the COVID-19 pandemic and assured the police are always coordinating with the military to maintain peace and order in communities.
He also said security forces are maintaining good relations with the local government units, residents and other stakeholders because the goal to eradicate these terror groups will only succeed through a whole-of-nation approach.
“Mas pinaigting din ang aming ugnayan sa mga LGUs at maging sa mga residente mismo dahil ang paglaban sa mga grupong ito ay hindi lamang nakaatang sa mga balikat ng pulis at sundalo. Kailangan din namin ang kooperasyon at suporta ng publiko at lokal na pamahalaan,” the PNP chief said.
