Retired police general Thompson Lantion, now acting as police consultant, confirmed yesterday that the Philippine National Police has issued a clearance to the provincial government for the purchase of an initial 20 M-16 Armalite rifles.
Dy said the high-powered firearms will be issued to mayors said to be in the "watch list" of the NPA.
At least six mayors are reportedly in the list for alleged offenses against the people.
"We have to arm ourselves and fight them (NPA). We can no longer afford to lose another mayor," Dy said, referring to the killing of Mayor Jesus Sebastian of Jones town last month.
The NPA’s Filomena Asuncion Command had claimed responsibility for the assassination of Sebastian whom it accused of human rights abuses, graft and corruption and involvement in illegal logging.
"It is becoming imperative that (we) protect (ourselves) from constant threats and harassment from the rebels," Dy said.
Dy himself is said to be in the NPA’s hit list for alleged landgrabbing.
Also in the list are the mayors of Cauayan City and the towns of San Agustin, Delfin Albano, San Guillermo, Quezon and Quirino.
The mayors earned the NPA’s ire for supporting a cassava plantation project co-financed by Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco and for allowing field trials of genetically engineered crops in their localities.
The communist rebels had branded these projects as "anti-poor" and "anti-development."
Cauayan City Mayor Cezar Dy, on the other hand, was accused of "arbitrarily" closing down radio station Bombo Radyo, thus "depriving the masses of access to information."