Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos on Monday called on Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar to beef up his security, saying the presidential aspirant could be an assassination target considering the recent spate of killings of local NP candidates and campaign leaders.

“We cannot discount the possibility of an assassination attempt on Villar especially that NP candidates are becoming a favorite target of election-related violence,” he said.

Marcos, one of the NP’s senatorial candidates, said Villar’s life could be in danger being one of the frontrunners in the presidential elections in May.

The opposition lawmaker said the killing of four local NP candidates last week may just be a preview of things to come in the May elections.

The recent NP fatalities were retired policeman Julio Equivas, a candidate for councilor in Casirugan, Sorsogon; Cipriano Albores, a former councilman of Barangay Kinangan in Malita, Davao del Sur and organizer of the Manny Villar for President Movement in the province; Wilbert Origines, barangay leaders’ president and candidate for vice-mayor in Taganaan, Surigao del Norte; and Joen Canete, a candidate for councilor in Dingras, Ilocos Norte.

“These local candidates of Villar’s party were all killed in a week, almost three months before the elections,” Marcos noted.

He said he “could not help but fear for Villar’s life especially that he is fast catching up with Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III in the presidential surveys.”

“The only way to stop Villar is through assassination. That’s why he needs more security,” Marcos said.

He said Villar should get more security escorts from the police and military to guard him while travelling around the country, especially in the 558 election hotspots identified by the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police.