4 COMMUNIST HIT SQUADS OUT TO ASSASSINATE RANKING GOVT OFFICIALS
MANILA, June 13, 2004 (STAR) By Non Alquitran - Police are hot on the trail of four communist hit squads out to assassinate Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos and two other ranking officials of the Arroyo administration.Metro Manila police chief Director Ricardo de Leon said yesterday that the threat on the life of Abalos was based on an old issue, while that on National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales was a personal one. He did not elaborate.
De Leon could not say why the communist rebels want to assassinate National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) chairman retired Gen. Angelo Reyes, who is making a major headway in the fight against kidnap-for-ransom syndicates.
"We are implementing stringent security measures in Metro Manila and we will cover their personal security as well," said De Leon.
An intelligence report prepared by the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) showed that the special operations department of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) under Wilberto Silva, alias Oca, dispatched last May 15 four Sparrow unit teams in areas encircling Metro Manila to liquidate Abalos, Gonzales and Reyes.
The report revealed that the communist rebels referred to Abalos as the "pangunahing tuta ng rehimeng Arroyo (foremost lapdog of the Arroyo regime)," Gonzales as "kasalukuyang berdugo ng administrasyon (current executioner of the administration)," and Reyes’ NAKTF as "pangunahing armadong grupo ng administrasyon (prime armed group of the administration)."
The four liquidation squads were codenamed "Philtranco," "BLTBus," "Saulog Transit," and "Baliwag Transit."
The Philtranco team, headed by a certain Julio or July, has 15 members and were monitored somewhere in the boundary of Cardona and Binangonan in Rizal. The BLTBus group headed by an alias Carlos or Carling has 12 members and stationed in the boundary of San Mateo and Rodriguez, also in Rizal.
The Saulog transit squad led by a certain Sadong with 12 members and positioned in the boundary of Bacoor and Kawit in Cavite. The Baliwag team with a certain Manding or Sandoval as leader has 14 members and were monitored in Meycauayan and Obando towns in Bulacan.
In a letter dated June 11, the NCRPO informed its five police districts and 37 station commanders of the communist movement’s sinister plot against Abalos, Gonzales and Reyes.
Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), said the report was raw intelligence that still needs verifying.
De Leon said he will personally coordinate with Abalos, Gonzales and Reyes to see how the NCRPO could augment their security.
"Being government officials, their personal security are now fully covered. We will look into their other security aspects like their daily routes taken and residences," he said.
Elements manning checkpoints and chokepoints in various strategic areas in Metro Manila are on the lookout for the communist hit squads, he assured.
De Leon said he will also coordinate with PNP intelligence Director Robert Delfin for a combined effort in hunting down the liquidation squads before they could carry out their mission.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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