PNP News Releases 2005

SUSPENSION OF OFFENSIVE POLICE OPERATIONS

The Philippine National Police welcomes the Malacañang declaration of a 20-day unilateral ceasefire with the local communist movement.

PNP Chief, Director General Edgar B Aglipay hailed the traditional Yuletide ceasefire declaration as a step closer towards lasting peace in the country.

“This is a magnanimous gesture on the part of government in the spirit of the Christmas season,” Aglipay said.

Aglipay said the entire PNP will strictly observe a Suspension of Offensive Police Operations (SOPO) against the New People's Army starting today, December 16 until January 5, 2005.

As such, all police operations shall be limited to regular law enforcement, and peace and order missions.

The PNP Chief likewise alerted all police units against possible hostile actions of the NPA during the Yuletide season as the communist movement has been known to step-up armed activities at the approach of its anniversary on December 26th.

Security in isolated government posts and less-guarded police offices had been augmented.

Just recently, NPA units figured in several hostilities against government forces and installations, the latest of which was the raid on the municipal hall of Carranglan, Nueva Ecija last night where some 50 NPA terrorists overpowered the four policemen on duty.

The NPA looted the Police Station of five rifles and carnapped the vehicles of the town mayor and parish priest. They also commandeered two passenger jeepneys for their escape.

Last Tuesday, NPA terrorists executed a police officer in Tarlac whom they lured into a set-up report of a road accident.

In Olongapo City last week, two policemen and a security guard where killed in an NPA drive-by shooting at a police outpost.