
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 6, 1990                   TAG: 9005060050
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: MANILA, PHILIPPINES                                LENGTH: Medium

MARINE SHOT NEAR BASE IN PHILIPPINES

An unidentified gunman shot and killed a U.S. Marine sergeant Friday night near the Subic Bay Naval Station in an attack that underlined concerns that the Philippines' Communist rebels might turn to assassinations as a way to counter what is widely seen as a decline in their strength.

Philippine police said gunnery Sgt. John Fredette, 34, was shot once in the back of the head by a gunman along the main strip of bars and restaurants in Olongapo City, near the naval base's main gate. The killing was the fourth of an American linked to the military in 13 months, but was considered unusual because Olongapo has been thought safe.

U.S. military officials did not confirm the identity of the victim, who police said was assigned to the 323rd Marine fighter attack squadron from El Toro, Calif. Police told reporters they suspected a Communist guerrilla in the killing.

The Communist rebellion here, once seen as the most serious problem facing President Corazon Aquino's government, has become weakened and officials here now cite "military rightists" as the gravest threat to national stability.

Philippine officials and diplomatic analysts said the decline of the left was most clearly demonstrated by its inability to launch a major strike after the government's suppression of a bloody coup attempt by military renegades last December left the government and armed forces in disarray.

Some diplomats have recently expressed fear that the Communists might attempt a dramatic assassination of a high-profile government official or foreign diplomat to demonstrate their staying power and rekindle publicity. Diplomats said the United States has been concerned about a Communist assassination attempt on an American target, especially in the days leading to the May 14 opening round of talks on a new treaty for U.S. military bases.

Because of such fears, Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Station have restricted travel by U.S. servicemen to Manila. Friday's killing prompted U.S. authorities to cancel all off-base leave.

Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Biazon, acting chief of staff of the armed forces, said Friday that the number of fighters with the Communist New People's Army had declined to about 19,000 this year from 25,600 in 1988.

by CNB