The Communist Party of the Philippines has branded as “hogwash” the government claims that the New People’s Army is out to kill President Arroyo.

In a statement, CPP spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal said:

There is absolutely no truth to the statements by police officials claiming that the NPA is planning to assassinate Arroyo. It is clear that this so-called intelligence report was publicized in order to justify Arroyo’s non-appearance before the alumni homecoming at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio in order to avoid a repeat of the jeers that she received last year.

Rosal explained that:

[T]his so-called intelligence report was obviously concocted by Arroyo’s police and military officials to justify the mobilization of thousands of Army troops to serve as a suppression force against the protest demonstrations.

He also said that “what the Filipino people want is to remove Gloria Arroyo from Malacañang and have her arrested, tried and punished for her crimes of plunder and state terror”.Rosal made the statement as he congratulated Filipinos for the Feb. 15 protest action at Ayala Avenue.