MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ricardo A. Marquez declared a nationwide "suspension of offensive police operations" (SOPO) against the New People's Army starting midnight of December 23 up to midnight of January 1, 2016.
This is in observance of the Yuletide season, a statement from the PNP said on Thursday, December 24.
"As part of the yearly tradition, the SOPO is observed and respected by all units and personnel of the PNP," stopping troops from initiating offensive police operations against the NPA. The prohibiiton however excludes normal law enforcement operations and the service of arrest warrants.
All PNP units were however asked to remain on-guard and to maintain a "high state of operational readiness to respond to any hostile actions."
Marquez said extra precautionary and preemptive measures "must be strictly observed" to avoid NPA attacks on vital installations and police stations. On December 12, 2015, personnel from the Pangantucan Municipal Police Station were ambushed while responding to an incident in Barangay New Eden in Bukidnon.
"The PNP will still continue to conduct active defensive measures such as security patrols to protect all PNP camps, stations, vital installations and civilian communities; route security, and strengthening of defensive positions," the PNP statement said.
To discourage indiscriminate firing during the holiday season, PNP units had taped gun muzzles in the past. In 2012, 7-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella died after a stray bullet hit her head on New Year’s Eve. – Rappler.com