MANILA, Nov. 23, Reuter: A Philippine Moslem leader was shot dead last night afier publicly endorsing President Corazon Aquino’s proposed constitution as new rumours of an impending coup swept Manila and troops guarded television stations.

Troops at military headquarters said they were placed on “Super Red Alert” and television stations which normally shut at midnight kept broadcasting old movies and sports programs well into the early Morning hours.

Employees at the stations said they were under instructions to continue broadcasting but refused to say where the orders came from or why they were given.

Small groups of soldiers guarded the television stations,

The Presidential Palace at 3 am had only a few soldiers in front of it and in the street leading to Aquino’s residence.

Government officials said that Aquino had been informed both of the murder of Ulbert Ulama Tugung, chairman of an autonomous Moslem region in the Southern Philippines, and of the coup rumours.

They said that Armed Forces Chief Fidel Ramos had called a meeting for today, but gave no further details.

Tuguns was killed by gunmen in passing car as he stepped out of Manila’s Aurelio hotel Also killed was his bodyguard and a hotel security officer. A Canadian tour is and a Filipino woman were injured.

The killings was the third political assassination in the Philippines in 11 days, The first to die was leftwing labour leader Rolando Olalla, whose killing was blamed by his followers on elements in the military loyal to Defence Minister Juan Ponce Enrile.

Later communist rebels claimed responsibility for murdering businessman David Puzon, a friend of Enrile.

Thousands of soldiers in (Wo. areas of the country demonstrated at their bases yesterday, demanding that Aquino call fresh Presidential elections, recall the new disbanded parliament and restore the 1973 constitution that was tailor made for ousted strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Associates of Tugung said he had just finished a two day meeting that endorsed the proposed new constitution, due to be voted on in February.

Tugung was removed by Marcos as Manila’s representative in one of two autonomous regions of the Southern Island of Mindanao, which has been torn by a 14-yearTong Moslem separatist rebellion.

But he was reappointed by Aquino and supported her.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 28, 1986