MANILA, Philippines -- The government is bracing for armed attacks, particularly in Metro Manila, by the communist New People’s Army, based on intelligence reports received shortly after the release from a Dutch prison of self-exiled communist leader Jose Ma. Sison.

This was disclosed by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales yesterday on Vice President Noli de Castro’s “Para Sa Iyo, Bayan” radio program.

Gonzales said Sison, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines who is based in the Netherlands, might want to avenge his 14-day incarceration on murder charges.

“We have intelligence reports that the NPA will be carrying out attacks in Metro Manila,” Gonzales said in English and Filipino.

Gonzales said the government would provide protection to the widows of slain former communist leaders Arturo Tabara and Romulo Kintanar and to Cabinet members who might be targets for assassination.

The widows brought the charges against Sison and helped provide evidence to Dutch authorities in The Hague. (See story above.)

Early last week, however, The Hague district court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to hold Sison in jail.

Gonzales said the Philippine government could not seek the extradition of Sison to the Philippines where the latter is also facing criminal charges because there is no extradition treaty between this country and the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director Renaldo Varilla, police chief of the National Capital Region, has ordered the establishment of amnesty centers for communist rebel returnees in all city police offices, as provided for in the amnesty proclamation signed recently by President Mcapagal-Arroyo.

He said a report on the specific locations of the amnesty centers and their team leaders and staff should be submitted to him today.

Proclamation No. 1377 grants amnesty to communist rebels and covers rebellion and all other crimes related to it in pursuit of their political beliefs. It, however, does not cover rape, torture, kidnapping, use and trafficking of illegal drugs, and other crimes committed for personal ends.

The centers will comprise representatives from the provincial or city prosecutor’s office, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Department of Interior and Local Government, the police, the brigade or battalion level of the Armed Forces in the area, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.