Slay plot vs NTF-ELCAC spokespersons foiled

MANILA, Philippines — A plot by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to assassinate spokespersons of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has been foiled, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon.

He said the slay attempt was prevented after three members of the communist group were killed in a shootout with law enforcers in Laguna yesterday.

“One of their missions is to hit NTF-ELCAC talking heads,” Esperon said. “Our gratitude to our partners in NTF-ELCAC, including members of the armed forces and the police.”

Rommel Rizza, commander of the NPA’s special operations group in Southern Tagalog, and two other rebels were killed in an encounter with Special Action Force commandos and local policemen serving arrest warrants for murder and kidnapping at the hideout of the communist insurgents in Barangay Macabling in Sta. Rosa City.

The two other fatalities were known only by their aliases of Blu and Dens.

The NPA rebels were pronounced dead on arrival at the Sta. Rosa Community Hospital.

Police said two caliber .45 pistols and an M16 rifle were among those recovered from the fatalities.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar confirmed that the slain rebels were on a ”liquidation mission” in Metro Manila, and that the possible targets were NTF-ELCAC spokespersons.

Eleazar did not say who among the spokespersons were the targets of the slay plot.

Six additional spokespersons of the NTF-ELCAC were recently named.

They are Undersecretaries Jonathan Malaya of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Severo Catura of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat, Joel Sy Egco of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago of the Metro Manila Development Authority and Marlon Bosantog and Gaye Florendo of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. – Artemio Dumlao, Emmanuel Tupas,