Bello disputes NPA slay plot vs Dy

ILAGAN, Isabela — The government’s chief peace negotiator, Silvestre Bello III, has disputed the report of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division based in Gamu town that the New People’s Army (NPA) is plotting to assassinate Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy Jr. and other provincial officials.

In a press briefing, Bello said he was alarmed by the report of a 5th ID representative during the Regional Peace and Order Council meeting last Thursday here confirming that special partisan units of the CPP-NPA-NDF Cagayan Valley Region Committee have been deployed in the province to execute provincial officials.

Aside from Dy, others in the supposed hit list were Vice Gov. Santiago Respicio, provincial fiscal Anthony Foz, provincial election supervisor Erwin Valeroso, schools division superintendent Benito Tumamao and some municipal mayors.

"They must be cautious in giving reports," Bello said.

He said he personally asked Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison if he really ordered the assassination of Dy and other provincial officials.

"Ang sabi ni Joma sa akin mismo na wala naman daw blood debt si Gov. Dy (Joma told me personally that Gov. Dy has no blood debt)," he said.

Bello said he even requested Sison to spare Isabela from NPA maneuvers to further spur development in the province.

He, however, hinted that the communist hit squads might be going after corrupt government officials.

Meanwhile, Dy reported that fully armed men barged inside his house in San Manuel town Sunday night. He was in Manila when the incident happened.

He said threats to his life have been becoming serious that he needs to beef up his security.