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DATE=3/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228916
TITLE=PHILIPPINES SECURITY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RUTH YOUNGBLOOD
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
 INTRO:  THE MILITARY AND POLICE ARE TIGHTENING SECURITY IN THE 
SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES PRIOR TO TUESDAY'S TRIP BY PRESIDENT FIDEL 
RAMOS. AS RUTH YOUNGBLOOD REPORTS FROM MANILA, THE PRESIDENTIAL 
SECURITY GROUP, OR P-S-G, SUSPECTS A HIRED ASSASSIN IS STALKING 
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
TEXT:  A PROVINCIAL SORTIE BY PRESIDENT RAMOS HAS TURNED INTO A 
SECURITY NIGHTMARE. THE PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY GROUP, THE NATION'S
CRACK SECURITY FORCE, HAS TRIPLED ITS DEPLOYMENT IN  THE 
PROVINCES OF DAVAO, DAVAO DEL SUR AND SOUTH COTABATO, FOLLOWING 
REPORTS AN ASSASSIN OUT TO KILL THE PRESIDENT WAS SPOTTED TWO 
WEEKS AGO.  MAJOR ROSQUE GARINGALAO, SPOKESMAN FOR THE ARMY'S 6TH
INFANTRY DIVISION, SAYS HE RECEIVED SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FROM 
ARMY HEADQUARTERS TO TIGHTEN SECURITY FROM THE TIME PRESIDENT 
RAMOS ARRIVES UNTIL HIS DEPARTURE TUESDAY NIGHT.  AUTHORITIES SAY
THEY DO NOT KNOW THE MOTIVE BEHIND THE PLOT.
 MARINE CONTINGENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN DISPATCHED. ACCORDING TO A 
P-S-G OFFICER, THE GROUP HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE SUSPECT, 
BELIEVED TO BE A DISCHARGED POLICE OFFICER, FOR TWO YEARS. 
AUTHORITIES SAY THE SUSPECT DOES NOT WORK ALONE, HAS SUPPORTERS 
AND ENOUGH FUNDS TO PURSUE THE PRESIDENT.  THE HITMAN, ACCORDING 
TO THE P-S-G, WAS PREVIOUSLY SPOTTED ON ONE OF PRESIDENT RAMOS' 
TRIPS TO THE WESTERN PROVINCE OF PALAWAN AND IS WANTED IN 
CONNECTION WITH OTHER KILLINGS.
 THE DISCLOSURE OF THE PLOT EMERGED IN THE MIDST OF THE 
INCREASINGLY- BITTER PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, IN  WHICH 
VICE-PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF HAVING 
MASTERMINDED A SCHEME TO KILL PRESIDENT RAMOS IN 1992. MR. 
ESTRADA, A FORMER MOVIE STAR AND THE CLEAR FRONTRUNNER IN THE MAY
11TH RACE, HAS DENIED THE ACCUSATION AND CALLED THE POLICE 
COLONEL WHO MADE IT, "A STOOGE."  PRESIDENT RAMOS, LIMITED TO 
ONLY A SINGLE TERM, IS BACKING THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKER JOSE DE VENECIA, WHO WOULD NEED TO 
DOUBLE HIS SUPPORTERS TO CATCH UP TO MR. ESTRADA.  (SIGNED)
NEB/RY/FC
30-Mar-98 5:44 AM EST (1044 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.