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Monday, May 29, 2006
Troops secure 4 Cabinet officials facing threats
MANILA -- Military officials said Sunday they have taken "appropriate security measures" for four Cabinet officials who are reportedly targets of assassination by a group of "conspirators."
Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Information Office Chief Tristan Kison also linked last week's arrest of supporters of former president Joseph Estarada to the plot.
He said the arrest of five members of the Union of Masses for Democracy and Justice (UMDJ) was a big blow to the plotters.
"This kind of threat is continuing. Its revelation, the arrest of five alleged Estrada supporters is a big blow to them. We believe that while this a continuing threat, there is a big obstacle in its execution," he said.
Assurance
"We (military) cannot give a 100 percent assurance that we already foiled it because we cannot read the minds of every people who want to assassinate our four Cabinet secretaries," said Kison.
Kison said the four Cabinet officials, whom he did not identify, have been already informed of the threat.
"We will continue to be vigilant in the enforcement of the law and maintenance of peace and order. Our leadership has informed the concerned Cabinet secretaries for the adoption of necessary security measures to prevent any eventuality against them," he said.
One of the Estrada supporters arrested last week, Ruben Dionisio, is allegedly the intelligence officer of the Special Operations Group of the New People's Army (NPA) in Metro Manila.
The military said it was only incidental that the suspects are supporters of the former President. The five were ordered released by the justice department Thursday due to the lack of evidence for the rebellion accusation.
Asked if there was a failure of intelligence in the arrest of Dionisio and four others, Kison said: "What happened was based on a good intelligence (effort) that was conducted but you know intelligence (information) are not accepted by court (as evidence)." (VR/Sunnex)
(May 29, 2006 issue)
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