CEBU CITY: REACTIONS TO ALLEGED STATEMENTS OF CONG. JERRY LEWIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000700910018-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 9, 2012
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: February 18, 1986
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700910018-4
CO r
PRIORITY
PAGE 001 NC 9944480
TOR: 180732Z FEB 86 CEBU 00094
PP RUEAIIB
ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
STU8733
PP RUEHC
DE RUMJCB #0094 0490720
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 180655Z FEB 86
FM AMCONSUL CEBU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1594
INFO RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 2854
C 0 N
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, SCOM, RP, US
SUBJECT: CEBU CITY: REACTIONS TO ALLEGED STATEMENTS OF
CONG. JERRY LEWIS
1. LOCAL NEWSPAPERS LAST WEEK CARRIED STATEMENTS
ATTRIBUTED TO CONGRESSMAN JERRY LEWIS (WHO HEADED
PRESIDENTIAL OBSERVER TEAM THAT VISITED CEBU FEBRUARY 6-8)
HIGHLY CRITICAL OF NAMFREL. REACTION BY NAMFREL VOLUNTEERS
AND OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS HAS BEEN VOCAL. AND SHARP. COLUMNISTS
AND BROADCASTERS HAVE ALSO HAD A FIELD DAY.
2. NEVERTHELESS, LOCAL NAMFREL OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN MOST
MODERATE IN THEIR RESPONSE, BELIEVING LEWIS WAS MISQUOTED.
THEY HAVE URGED MODERATION ON OTHERS. LOCAL NAMFREL HEAD
ERNEST ABOITZ IS PARTICULARLY ANXIOUS TO AVOID AN ANTI-
AMERICAN REACTION TO GARBLED STATEMENTS MADE IN THE U.S.
3. OVER THE WEEKEND, ABOITZ TALKED WITH BROTHER-IN-LAW IN
THE U.S. WHO APPARENTLY HAD SEEN LEWIS ON T.V., AND TOLD
ABOITZ THAT CONG. LEWIS MADE NO RPT NO DEROGATORY STATEMENTS
ABOUT NAMFREL. APPARENTLY, ABOITZ'S COMMENTS ABOUT THIS
CONVERSATION MADE THEIR WAY TO A. JOURNALIST AND AN ARTICLE
APPEARED IN FEBRUARY 16 "INQUIRER" STATING THAT ABOITZ HAD
PERSONALLY TALKED WITH CONG. LEWIS, WHO DENIED MAKING THE
INITIALLY REPORTED STATEMENTS BLASTING NAMFREL.. NOW ABOITZ IS
CONCERNED THAT CONG. LEWIS WILL HEAR OF TH':S FRRONEOUS STORY
AND BELIEVE THAT ABOITZ IS SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION.
4. ACTION REQUESTED: PLEASE INFORM CONGRESSMAN JERRY LEWIS
OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION, AND ASSURE HIM THAT ERNEST ABOITZ
MADE NO RPT NO CLAIM TO HAVE DISCUSSED HIS STATEMENTS
PERSONALLY WITH HIM. WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE ANY TRANSCRIPT
AND/OR ANY CLARIFICATION OF LEWIS' COMMENTS RE HIS OBSERVATIONS
HERE IN CEBU. PORTER
END OF MESSAGE CONF +4L-
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
OCA
INCOMING
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP90BO139OR000700910018-4