BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- A communist rebel leader operating in the Cordillera Administrative Region said the supposed assassination plot against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by the New People’s Army was a “long-standing plot” that the military knew about all along.

Simon “Ka Filiw” Naogsan, spokesperson of the Cordillera People’s Democratic Front (CPDF), however, said the military only used this information whenever it wanted to divert attention away from the controversies hounding the Arroyo administration.

“Lumang tugtugin na iyan (That’s an old tune). The military is exploiting this information to make sure it generates public attention. The assassination plot is a diversionary tactic of the government to stop people from joining protest actions,” Naogsan said in a phone interview on Saturday.

Naogsan made the statement after the Presidential Security Group (PSG) said that seven NPA special operations groups had been sent out to kill Ms Arroyo.

PSG officials said that according to intelligence reports some of the NPA teams were monitored in Baguio City, Banaue (Ifugao) and parts of Northern Luzon.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, PSG commander, advised Ms Arroyo not to attend the Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming here on Saturday because of the threat to her life.

Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, Northern Luzon Command chief, said his command had not received any information on a supposed assassination plot against the President.

Maclang said the PSG might have had other sources of information when it revealed the threat on Ms Arroyo’s life. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon