AFP: Order to deploy partisans proves Reds are terrorists

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison's order to deploy partisan units to attack government forces is a "deliberate attempt to terrorize the people."

"Mr. Sison's order to deploy partisan units is a terrorist act by inducing his liquidation squads to conduct assassination of government officials and non-combatants. By such orders, Mr. Sison confirms that they are terrorists," AFP spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo said at a virtual presser.

Arevalo added that Sison's order was also a desperate plan to show to security forces and the public that the communist group was still a significant force.

"Kung hindi man ito naglalayon na takutin ang ating mga kababayan, sila ay ika nga bawalan o sagkaan ang kanilang kagustuhan na gawin ang kanilang trabaho... ito ay isang desperadong pamamaraan upang sabihin, kunwari ipakita na mayroon pa rin silang kakayahan na makapagsagawa ng ganitong pananakot," Arevalo said.

The Philippine military had so far seen no indication that communist rebels were a threat in Metro Manila.

"Sa ngayon, wala kaming nakikita na namo-monitor na malaking banta hinggil diyan. Although sabi natin sineseryoso natin ito, we considered this as a terrorist act," Arevalo said.

Marco Valbuena, CPP's chief information officer, has said "there is a standing order for the NPA to form partisan teams to mete out punishment against enemy units and officers who have committed bloody crimes against the people."

"Recently, partisan teams of the NPA have successfully punished some notorious fascist criminals, including Jumar Bucales, who heads a local paramiltary vigilante group responsible for the 2015 Lianga massacre," Valbuena said.

"In due time, the NPA will be able to form more partisan teams who can carry out punitive actions in the cities or close to the cities," he added.

The Philippine National Police, for its part, said it has been monitoring the statements of Sison regarding the attacks allegedly being planned by the CPP.

According to PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas, police are checking with their legal officers if Sison's statements could be used in filing a criminal case against him.

"Sinusundan po namin 'yung mga statements niya, mga pronouncements niya at tinitingnan namin kung ano ang effect noon, kung 'yun bang statement niya will be used against him for any criminal case. I have already talked to some of our legal officers kung 'yun bang pronouncement niya ay mayroong puwedeng ifile sa kanya," Sinas said at a separate press briefing.

Sinas also said the PNP is coordinating with the AFP regarding the matter. — DVM, GMA News