Top AFP exec cautions Ilonggo soldiers, police
Two to three suspected assassins are feared to have been deployed here in Iloilo City with specific targets -- the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military. The whereabouts of the hitmen is now subject of intense validation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here. The trio was reported to be communist terrorists belonging to the New People's Army (NPA).
Captain Lowen Gil Marquez made the confirmation with The News Today (TNT) adding that it was in the Plaza Libertad area where the suspected assassins were spotted. Plaza Libertad is a favorite among joggers including the police and the Army for early morning exercise.
"The information reveals that two or three of these communist terrorists were tasked and deployed here particularly in the morning in order to kill AFP and PNP officers out on a morning jog," Captain Marquez said. "They do become easy targets then being un-armed so we are giving this warning to our soldiers and the police to be on guard always and take extra precaution for now."
Captain Marquez is the commanding officer of the AFP's 3rd Civil Relations Unit. No further details were released on the identities of the alleged hitmen.
Meantime, security is all set for tomorrow's protest rally feared by the AFP to be yet another venue for communist-backed groups to infiltrate and exploit.
With the planned entry of coal-fired power plant here as main subject of the rally, protesters against the project are expected to gather supporters. The AFP has raised the concern though following intelligence reports that groups said to be legal front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) are all out to join the rally.