Senior Philippine military officials on Monday said the leftist rebels are trying to get in touch with other groups for a fresh plan to overthrow the current administration and hint the possibility of imposing a curfew.
Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa, commander of the military's National Capital Region Command, said the intelligence reports indicated that the leftist forces, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its army wing -- the New People's Army -- were gearing up for a power-grab, however, he said he was not certain if the plan is the same destabilization plan revealed by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales being hatched for Jan. 22.
"What I know is that the CPP has plans and they try to get in touch with some groups and we will not allow that to happen," Mesasaid.
Meanwhile, Philippine police chief Avelino Razon Jr said he is ready to enforce a curfew should they verify the supposed plot between the CPP and the Magdalo group, the anti-government force involved in last November's failed coup try.
On Last Nov. 29, a group of 40 renegade soldiers and civilians, led by Sen. Antonio Trillane, held up in a posh hotel in the financial district of Metro Manila for seven hours in a rather peaceful confrontation with the government. Most of the renegade soldiers were arrested after tank-riding elite government troops rammed into the hotel but a couple of the rebels managed to escape.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales earlier said the escaped soldiers were trying to team up with other anti-government forces to turn destabilization attempts into meaningful acts.
"We got information that they are planning to have rallies but still, we have this on the ground," said Mesa, adding that the communists may take advantage of the anticipated rallies for the 7th year anniversary of Edsa II on Jan. 19 and 20. "They want to execute their plan as soon as possible," Mesa said.
Edsa II was the popular revolt that forced the scandal-dogged former president Joseph Estrada to resign in 2001, barely two years after he took office.
The 6,700-member Communist Party of the Philippines and its army wing -- the New People's Army -- have been waging guerrilla wars against the administration since the leftist group's founding in late 1960s.
Source:Xinhua
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