Military ready for all eventualities this coming Holy Week, NPA anniversary --AFP

MANILA -- While not declaring a heightened alert this coming Holy Week and the 46th anniversary of the New People's Army on March 29, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has announced that all its forces are ready for any eventualities.This was disclosed by AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc in a media briefing Wednesday.He said that alert precautions are dependent on the security situation in a particular area.Lowering and raising an alert is the prerogative of the unit and ground commanders, he added.Cabunoc said they expect the NPA to observe its 46th Foundation Day by mounting tactical offensives against lightly defended government and military installations.For the Holy Week observation, the AFP public affairs office chief said that the Philippine National Police will be playing the lead role in all security preparations with the military playing a supporting one.However, he added that every division and military unit will have a task force dedicated for Holy Week security operations.Cabunoc also said that military personnel not involved in any major security operations and assigned in areas not harboring major threat grounds are allowed to go home to their families and do their religious obligations for the duration of the Holy Week.Areas in the country known to be hosting NPA groups include Masbate and Sorsogon in Southern Luzon, Kalinga in Northern Luzon, Leyte, Eastern and Northern Samar in the Visayas and CARAGA Region and Compostela Valley in Mindanao, the military official said. (PNA)SCS/PFN