Isabela mayors want police escorts, guns vs NPA threats

CAUAYAN, Isabela — This province’s 35 town mayors are urging the Philippine National Police to provide them with police escorts and firearms amid reported death threats from the New People’s Army (NPA) and criminal syndicates.

Senior Superintendent Nelson Nario, Isabela police director, also disclosed that majority of barangay officials in the province have also requested for police security.

Of the 35 municipal mayors, Nario said only four have so far been provided with police escorts and firearms for their security. They are Mayors William Uy of Aurora town, Virgilio Padilla of San Agustin, Napoleon Dy of Alicia, and Caesar Dy of Cauayan.

Uy is the incumbent president of the Isabela mayors’ league. Napoleon Dy is the brother of Gov. Faustino Dy Jr., third district Rep. Faustino Dy III and and Caesar Dy.

Gov. Dy reportedly tops the NPA’s liquidation list for implementing projects which the rebels claimed were "anti-masses" and "anti-environment."

Dy himself admitted that he has been receiving threats from two of the local NPA fronts — the Filomena Asuncion Front and the Benito Tesorio Command.

"We’re not taking chances. The threats against (Gov. Dy) are alarming. The rebels are serious (in getting) him," Nario said.

Elements of the police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and the military’s elite unit are now providing round-the-clock protection to Dy.

Last year, Mayor Jesus Sebastian of Jones town, a close political ally of the governor, was slain by NPA hit men.