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Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Arroyo, Cabinet members in communist hit list: letter
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and several members of her Cabinet are in the hit list of the New People's Army (NPA), a letter sent to journalists covering Malacañang said.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, who was included in the 16 names listed in the one-page letter, said he "would not wish to engage in conjectures" when asked for his reaction.
Bunye said they would not allow the so-called threat to affect the performance of their jobs but they would not take any chances either. He said appropriate actions and security precautions would be taken.
Asked if National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, who is also in the hit list, has already been informed, Bunye said Gonzales knows his job.
The letter, dated May 29, 2006, is said to be the Bagong Hukbong Bayan's message during its 37th anniversary. The computerized message was written on a legal size bond paper with the letterhead "Kawanihan sa Impormasyon Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas" and received at the Malacañang Post Office on March 31, 2006. It was sent by a certain RPC with the address 2886 Solidhouse Building, Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City.
The Solidhouse building, which houses the Sony Philippines' service center in Makati City, exists but its address is 2285, not 2286, also in Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City.
The order of battle included names of the "reaksyunaryong pulitiko na itinuturing na kaaway ng bayan. Kailangang likidahin ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan (reactionary politicians who are deemed enemies of the country. They have to be liquidated by the New People's Army)."
The list, which includes 16 names, is topped by Arroyo followed by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, Security Adviser Gonzales, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Cagayan de Oro Representative Constantino Jaraula, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Senator Miriam Derfensor-Santiago, Ilocos Norte Representative Ma. Imelda "Imee" Marcos, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Davao City Representative Prospero Nograles, Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte, and Bunye.
The letter said there was a second page or a possible continuation of the list but it was not included in the document sent to reporters covering Malacañang.
The letter stated that the NPA, since its creation 37 years ago, has faced a lot of challenges and made lot of sacrifices over the years. The group claimed it has defeated efforts of previous administrations to stop them and it would continue its fight against the Arroyo government.
NPA spokesman Gregorio Rosal was unavailable for comment while the National Democratic Front (NDF) website did not post anything related to the letter or the NPA's order of battle. (JMR/Sunnex)
(June 7, 2006 issue)
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