ILOILO CITY - Police stations in Western Visayas have been placed on alert for rebel attacks following Sunday's raid by New People's Army guerillas on a police outpost in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Chief Supt. Doroteo Reyes II, Western Visayas police director, said he has ordered all police stations, especially those in remote towns, to strengthen their defenses against possible attacks. Reyes said the NPA can be expected to launch more attacks in other areas considering that it is commemorating its founding anniversary on March 29.

"Our stations could be vulnerable so they have been placed on alert," Reyes said in a telephone interview.

An estimated 30-40 NPA rebels raided the detachment of the PNP's 1st Regional Mobile Group (RMG) in Sitio Cubay, Barangay Malasibog in Escalante around 6 a.m. on Sunday while the two policemen and eight Civilian Volunteers Organization members who were on duty were having breakfast.

The rebels took nine high-powered rifles including an M-60 machine gun, two M-14 rifles, two M-16 rifles, three Garand rifles and a .45-caliber pistol. The government troops were not harmed.

The rebels are part of the Larangang Gerilya 3 of the Negros Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines allegedly led by former Catholic priest Frank Fernandez, Reyes said.

He said policemen under the elite Special Weapons and Tactics and troops under the Army's 11th Infantry Battalion have been airlifted to the area in pursuit of the rebels.

"We believe they are still in the area and we expect encounters within the week," said Reyes. He said rebels could easily "blend" with the populace if the government troops fail to initiate encounters within the week.

Reyes has ordered the relief of detachment commander PO3 Antonio Bravo and 1st RMG commander Supt. Flomar Natuel following the incident.

"They were caught flat-footed. There was negligence and laxity," Reyes said.

The Escalante attack is the latest after the bloody Nov. 19, 2005 ambush by NPA rebels in Calinog town in Iloilo where nine soldiers were killed and 20 others were wounded after the rebels detonated two landmines and opened fire at the soldiers on board two trucks.

In June 15, 2004, NPA rebels attacked and overran the police station of Tubungan town 41 km south of Iloilo City wounding the town's police chief. They also took 12 high-powered firearms.

In a statement marking the CPP's 37th founding anniversary last Dec. 26, the rebels vowed to launch more attacks this year.*

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