MORNING NOTES - SOUTHEAST ASIA DIVISION - ISLANDS BRANCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89B00224R000702580005-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 1, 2011
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 29, 1987
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/09: CIA-RDP89B00224R000702580005-0
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Attached is the latest we have
on the Philippine situation. Enclosed
is an update done by the Office of
East Asian Analysis in the DI, a
State cable reporting on the recent
incident, and a copy of this morning's
PDB article.
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/09: CIA-RDP89B00224R000702580005-0
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C O N F I D E N T I A L
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MSGNO 27 (STXX) *10/29/87* *07:13:53.9.7*
ZCZC 12:12:15Z (ST)
EMI DTG : 87102906324449
87 6664427 SCO
TOR: 291126Z OCT 87
NC 6664427
MANILA 35126
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
00 RUEAIIB
ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
STU8248
00 RUEHC
DE RUEHML #5126 3021103
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
0 291102Z OCT 87
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0741
INFO RUHQHQA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
RUHGSJA/COMUSNAVPHIL SUBIC BAY RP
RHMRATK/13THAF CLARK AB RP
RUMJCB/AMCONSUL CEBU 9256
BT
EZ 1:
CO NF I DENT I A L MANILA 35126
EZ2:
USCINCPAC ALSO FOR FPA
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, RP
SUBJECT: ASSASSINATIONS OF U.S SERVICEMEN:
MISSION ASSESSMENT
REFS: A) MANILA 34881 B)
1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT
2. SUMMARY: EVIDENCE IS ACCUMULATING THAT THE NPA WAS
BEHIND THE KILLING OF THREE AMERICAN MILITARY MEN OUTSIDE
OF CLARK AIR BASE WEDNESDAY AND THAT THERE MAY BE MORE
SUCH ASSASSINATIONS, POSSIBLY IN MANILA. ONE SOURCE
CLAIMS THE NPA CHANGED ITS POLICY BECAUSE OF WHAT IS
PERCEIVED AS A GROWING U.S. ROLE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S
COUNTERINSURGENCY PROGRAM. THE SHOOTINGS ARE PROBABLY
ALSO INTENDED TO UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN THE AQUINO
ADMINISTRATION. PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN
RESPONSIVE TO MISSION SECURITY CONCERNS, BUT PAST
EXPERIENCE RAISES QUESTIONS WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
DO MUCH TO APPREHEND THE GUILTY OR PROTECT AMERICAN
C O N F I D E N T I A L
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/09: CIA-RDP89B00224R000702580005-0
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PERSONNEL IN THE COUNTRY. THE MISSION IS ADVISING U.S.
EMPLOYEES AND U.S. CITIZENS AGAINST UNNECESSARY TRAVEL TO
CLARK AREA AND TO TAKE SPECIAL SECURITY PRECAUTIONS. END
SUMMARY
THAT THE NPA OCTOBER 17 ADOPTED A NEW POLICY
COUNTRYWIDE OF KILLING AMERICANS. THE SOURCE ASCRIBED THE
CHANGE TO WHAT THE CPP/NPA PERCEIVES AS A GROWING U.S.
INVOLVEMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT COUNTERINSURGENCY EFFORT.
CALLS ALLEGEDLY FROM THE NPA TO A FOREIGN WIRE SERVICE AND
THE U.S. MILITARY FLIGHT DESK AT THE AIRPORT OCTOBER 29
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNISTS FOR THE
CLARK SHOOTINGS.
4. WEDNESDAY'S INCIDENTS COME AMIDST A RECENT SHARP
INCREASE IN NPA ASSASSINATION ACTIVITY AGAINST PHILIPPINE
POLICE AND MILITARY IN MANILA. DURING THE PAST WEEK,
THERE HAVE BEEN MORE TEN SUCH KILLINGS IN THE CAPITAL.
THE CLARK EPISODE OCCUPIED BANNER HEADLINES TODAY IN
PRACTICALLY ALL THE LOCAL PAPERS. MOST WRITERS HAVE
SPECULATED THAT THE NPA IS RESPONSBILE. THE LAST TIME THE
NPA KILLED AMERICAN SERVICEMEN WAS THREE NAVY OFFICERS AT
SUBIC BAY IN 1974.
5. WE CANNOT DISCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY OF OTHER POLITICAL
GROUPS HAVING BEEN RESPONSIBLE. THESE WOULD INCLUDE
RIGHTIST ELEMENTS WHO WANT THE KILLINGS TO APPEAR TO BE
THE WORK OF THE NPA. THE MOTIVE WOULD BE TO KEEP THE
POLITICAL POT BOILING AND TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN THE
U.S. AND THE AQUINO ADMINISTRATION BY DRAMATIZING
GOVERNMENT INABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE INSURGENCY OR TO
PROTECT AMERICAN LIVES. IT IS ALSO CONCEIVABLE THAT
IRANIANS OR LYBIANS HIRED FILIPINOS TO GUN DOWN THE
SERVICEMEN AS RETALIATION FOR AMERICAN MILITARY ACTIONS IN
THE MIDDLE EAST.
6. PHILIPPINE POLICE AUTHORITIES HAVE RESPONDED QUICKLY
TO TRY TO TRACK DOWN THE PERPETRATORS AND HAVE TAKEN
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO PROTECT AMERICANS IN THE MANILA
AND ANGELES AREAS. THE METRODISCOM IN ANGELES ESTABLISHED
CHECKPOINTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. NONETHELESS, THE POLICE
HAVE BEEN NOTABLY UNSUCCESSFUL IN SOLVING SUCH CASES IN
THE PAST AND IT IS WILL PROBABLY BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO
APPREHEND THOSE RESPPONSIBLE.
7. SHORTLY AFTER YESTERDAY'S INCIDENTS, CAPCOM COMMANDER
BGEN ALEXANDER AGUIRRE CALLED RSO OFFERING ASSISTANCE IN
PROTECTING AMERICAN LIVES AND PROPERTY IN MANILA.
RESPONDING TO THE RSO'S SUGGESTION, CAPCOM DISPATCHED
POLICE TO GUARD CHOKE POINTS AT ENTRANCES TO MAKATI
HOUSING AREAS WHERE MOST AMERICANS LIVE AND TO PATROL A
CONGESTED ROAD FREQUENTLY TRAVELED BY EMBASSY PERSONNEL.
C O N F I D E N T I A L
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THESE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE SPOTS FOR ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPTS. THE MISSION HAS ADVISED STAFF AND FAMILIES TO
TAKE EXTRA SECURITY PRECAUTIONS AND CURTAIL UNNECESARY
TRAVEL TO THE ANGELES CITY AREA UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. WE
ALSO HAVE ACTIVATED THE EXTERNAL WARDEN SYSTEM TO ADVISE
PRIVATE AMERICANS IN MANILA OF THIS POTENTIAL INCREASED
THREAT. PLATT
END OF MESSAGE CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/09: CIA-RDP89B00224R000702580005-0
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/09: CIA-RDP89B00224R000702580005-0
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