Police tighten security for Marcoses in Ilocos

BAGUIO CITY — Police have tightened security for the family of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte as communist guerrillas vowed to take "punitive actions" against the clan following last Sunday’s blasting of the former strongman’s bust in Benguet.

Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao, Ilocos police director, said the Marcoses sought additional security after the attack on the 30-meter concrete bust overlooking the Marcos Highway in Tuba, Benguet.

The New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Lomibao said security has been beefed up at the residences of the Marcoses in Ilocos Norte, including the mansion of Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on a secluded sand dune area in Barangay Suba, Paoay town.

Bongbong’s mansion is located near the Marcoses’ Balay Ti Amianan which the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) took over after Marcos was ousted from power in February 1986.

NPA spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal has congratulated the Chadli Molintas Command, which operates in Ilocos and the Cordilleras, for the bombing of the Marcos bust.

Beverly Longid, executive director of the Baguio City-based Cordillera Indigenous Peoples Law Center, welcomed the destruction of the Marcos bust.

"We can start a new life after the destruction of the grim reminder of the dark years of martial law," she said.

But she added, "All indications show that martial law is not far behind as laws, policies and programs continue to oppress the people under the Arroyo government."

Military authorities in Northern Luzon, however, lambasted the NPA for the terrorist action on an "easy target."

"The NPA’s purpose was only to get attention and support from the masses," said Lt. Col. Ceferino Tannagan, Armed Forces’ civil relations service commander based at the North Luzon Command.

Tannagan said the NPA’s action on the Marcos bust only shows that the rebels are losing capability to mount attacks on real targets.