MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said it is now on full alert after communist insurgents ended its truce – supposedly to give way for COVID-19 efforts – with the government. The full alert was raised upon the instruction of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, the PNP noted. Gen. Bernard Banac said the 205,000-strong police force “is ready and able to defend the country against any atrocities” of the Communist Party of the Philippines -New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). Año earlier directed the PNP to go on full alert after the CPP on Thursday ordered the NPA to end its ceasefire with the government troops despite calls from the United Nations and left-leaning lawmakers for a “humanitarian pause” on offensives amid the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 02, 2020 07:22 UTC