DUMAGUETE CITY – The 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Siaton, Negros Oriental is deploying quick reaction teams in strategic locations to avert possible attacks by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) during the Holy Week.

Lt. Col. Roderick Salayo, 11IB commanding officer, said on Wednesday these teams are on standby in the battalion’s patrol bases in the towns of Valencia, Mabinay, Siaton, and Sta. Catalina for rapid deployment.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is the lead agency on security concerns during the Holy Week, with emphasis on tourist destinations but the Army is providing augmentation forces, he said.

“But in the remote areas, our counter-insurgency operations continue without let-up to prevent the NPA from taking advantage of the Holy Week activities,” he added.

The Philippine Army is also providing augmentation to the PNP for a joint security to ensure clean, honest, peaceful, and orderly elections on May 9.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)