RP fears backlash over arrest of communist chief

RP fears backlash over arrest of communist chief

MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Fidel Ramos expressed
concern yesterday that the arrest of the alleged leader of
communist death squads could spark a security backlash ahead of a
regional summit here.

Ramos denied the arrest of Felimon Lagman was linked to the
Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit, to be held from
Nov. 20 to 25, which is the subject of a high security alert.

"The move might be misconstrued as a crackdown on anti-APEC
protests. But the case is a police matter and in no way related
to APEC," Ramos was quoted as telling officials at a cabinet
meeting, referring to the arrest of alleged communist hit-squad
leader Lagman.

"I agree with your observation that the timing is not so good
but if these are things that have to be done in order to protect
the greater public interest then so be it," he said, adding that
the order for his arrest came from the courts and not his office.

Lagman, who is now the leader of a labor group, was arrested
Tuesday for the killing of a policeman in 1992, when he was said
to have headed the Alex Boncayao Brigade, a communist hit-squad
which was held responsible for the deaths of 200 civilians and
policemen.

Manila yesterday declared a five-day holiday and banned
civilians from carrying licensed guns outside their homes from
Nov. 16 as part of a security clampdown for the APEC summit.

The summit will bring together U.S. President Bill Clinton,
the prime ministers of Japan, Canada and Australia and leaders or
representatives of 14 other Pacific Rim economies.

Manila is leaving no stone unturned in its security
preparations for APEC, which it considers its "coming-out party"
amid a modest economic recovery after more than two decades of
economic and political instability.

As the cabinet discussed APEC security, riot police blocked
dozens of anti-APEC protesters on a bridge leading to the
Malacanang presidential palace.

However, the number of protesters swelled to several hundred,
including 50 foreign activists, who later marched on the U.S.
embassy while chanting anti-APEC slogans.

Ramos has said "maximum tolerance" would be shown toward anti-
APEC demonstrators.

"We just let them do their thing unless they create trouble
that disturbs peace and order," he said.

A holiday from Nov. 22 to Nov. 26 was declared in greater
Manila and the northern city of Olongapo, where the Subic summit
venue is located, to "ensure a free and unhampered flow of
traffic."

Senior officials and foreign ministers from APEC countries are
to meet in Manila from Nov. 20 - 24, while the leaders will meet
Nov. 25 at Subic Bay.

"I think we have a lot of confidence in Filipino authorities
to take care of any security problems that might arise when the
president (Clinton) travels," the U.S. ambassador to the
Philippines, Thomas Hubbard, was quoted as saying in a report
yesterday.

Philippine Defense Secretary Renato de Villa defended the
arrest of Lagman amid fears it could spark anti-APEC protests of
the sort triggered by the recent demolition of squatter colonies
and drawing up of a blacklist of potential foreign troublemakers.

"I do believe that all of these factors must have been thought
of or must have come to the minds of the people who executed the
action," he told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

Lagman's brother, congressman Edcel Lagman, protested the
arrest, which came amid reports that the left-wing squad his
brother allegedly headed would disrupt the APEC leaders' summit.

"This is a maneuver of the administration to silence the
opposition to APEC because the leader of this is my brother," the
congressman said in a radio interview yesterday.

Labor officials scrambled yesterday to resolve disputes
between the management and unions of five-star hotels that had
earlier threatened to strike during the APEC summit.