Lee has only 2 security escorts, says Villanueva

DAVAO CITY - Maj. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, chief of the Armed Forces' Southern Command, admitted yesterday as having provided controversial presidential friend Lee Ping Wee with two security escorts in spite of his having been fired as presidential adviser for Mindanao affairs last Jan. 8.

"Yes, I have assigned two security escorts for Mr. Lee not because he is a presidential adviser or presidential friend but because of the kidnapping threats that he is getting," Villanueva said.

"He is a kidnap target in Zamboanga, that is why I have provided him with security escorts," he added.

Last week, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said that Lee, along with other one-peso-a-year advisers, was no longer connected with Malacañang since President Estrada revamped his Cabinet last January.

Villanueva denied providing Lee with eight Marine personnel as security escorts, three for him and five for his wife, Cely.

"It is not true. Where will I get those eight Marine personnel? The Marines are needed in the field. Why would I give them to Mr. Lee? There are only two men assigned to him and they're not even from the Marines," Villanueva said.

The Southcom chief said the security escorts assigned to Lee belong to Task Force Zamboanga which provides security men to Zamboanga City officials and prominent citizens who are considered kidnapping targets of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group.

"It would be a big problem if these people get kidnapped. So, there is nothing wrong if we provide them security personnel," Villanueva said.

Lt. Gen. Edgardo Espinosa was reportedly booted out as Southcom chief last Feb. 25 for having recalled Lee's three Marine security escorts.

Espinosa claimed the three soldiers had to be recalled after Lee was fired as presidential adviser last Jan. 8.