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Monday, July 24, 2006
Pre-emptive response again
As President Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address (SONA), Manila will not be the only place in the country under tight security.
Beginning noon yesterday, all police units in Central Visayas were placed on full alert.
The SONA, President Arroyo’s sixth since she came to power after her predecessor was ousted in 2001, is expected to focus on the economy and the government’s successful fiscal reforms while avoiding political controversies, her advisers said.
Police said about 16,000 officers and soldiers will be deployed around Metro Manila, mostly in and around the sprawling Congress compound in Quezon City.
“We don’t expect any aggression from anybody, but as we have done in the past, we will exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with protesters,” said National Police Chief Oscar Calderon.
Checkpoints
Vidal Querol, the Manila police chief, said checkpoints were put up in strategic locations to intercept any guns and explosives intended to disturb the event.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office has ordered all police chiefs to monitor plans of any group to disrupt the SONA and be prepared to respond. All stations should also provide intelligence assistance and relay all valuable information.
After learning of reports that a series of rallies will be conducted in Cebu City today, police stations were also ordered to set up checkpoints in their areas.
This, after they learned that militant groups from neighboring cities and towns in the province will converge in Cebu City.
“In this regard, you are directed to conduct checkpoints and prevent their movement by confiscating paraphernalia and symbols used to embarrass the government and those against the rules and regulations in the conduct of peaceful rallies,” a memorandum read.
Red scare
Stations in the province will also be on their toes, after a detachment in Matinog, Sorsogon was attacked at dawn last Saturday.
The CPPO ordered police station chiefs to conduct appropriate counter-measures, as the attack “may be a series of offensives by the New People’s Army to embarrass the government for the SONA.”
Vital installations, electric power lines, water supply facilities, gas stations, telecommunication facilities, radio and television stations and industrial landmarks are to be secured “at all times,” while defense plans of their stations are to be strengthened.
The Lapu-Lapu City Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) has also been requested to prepare for deployment at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, in coordination with the Police Center for Aviation Security.
Usual targets
CPPO Director Vicente Loot said last week they do not want any of their police stations to be the subject of a raid.
Cebu City Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) Chief Pablo Labra II said they will also be wary of criminal elements who would take advantage of the activity, as they keep their eyes on cause-oriented groups who are planning to hold protest actions.
He suggested to Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Gayotin to ask for a company from the Regional Mobile Group on top of the platoon they already have.
As early as July 8, the top PNP hierarchy ordered stricter security measures following “persistent reports” of terrorist groups planning to carry out bombing activities and liquidations to coincide with the SONA today and the anniversary of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack in September.
Crowd dispersal
An earlier memorandum from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 stated that all units were to consider “all movement of personnel as tactical operations.”
However, they were also reminded to make sure that their actions were in accordance with national and international laws on the protection of human rights.
In Cebu City, at least five platoons from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) 7, the Regional Training School (RTS) 7 and personnel from the Cebu City Police Office will be deployed in the streets as early as 7 a.m. today.
They have been tasked to serve as crowd dispersal management teams.
Based on the memorandum order issued by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, three fire trucks will also be deployed at the Malacañang sa Sugbo, Capitol Building and one at the Mandaue City Sports Complex.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 7 is setting up television monitors inside the sports complex, where residents will have the chance to watch the live telecast of the SONA.
After the message, the PIA will then get reactions and comments from the viewers.
In Metro Manila, thousands of officers and soldiers are ready to guard Congress for the President’s annual address, weeks after authorities reportedly uncovered a fresh plot against her.
Left-wing groups have announced plans to gather up to 20,000 protesters.
Earlier this month, security officials arrested a group of fugitive soldiers who allegedly planned to seize the legislature, take lawmakers hostage and declare a revolutionary government to oust President Arroyo.
The president survived an alleged coup attempt in February but continues to be hounded by allegations of vote-rigging in the 2004 election, human rights abuses, corruption and dictatorial tendencies.
She has denied any wrongdoing, but lawmakers will tackle in the coming months new impeachment complaints against her, after throwing them out last year on a technicality.
“We’ve stepped up our intelligence-gathering against possible saboteurs,” said Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, police chief of the district that includes Congress. (MEA/JST/With AP)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 24, 2006 issue)
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