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Monday, July 24, 2006
Military on full alert for Arroyo's Sona
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has declared the highest state of alert in the National Capital Region (NCR), citing a supposed plan by a rightist group to grab power in time for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.
AFP Public Information Office Chief Tristan Kison said the military's NCR Command has been on red alert status since 8 a.m. Thursday as part of security precautions.
Kison said the red alert status was declared five days ahead of Sona due to last Friday's assumption of command ceremony for new AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon, which was presided over by President Arroyo in Camp Aguinaldo.
"We declared the red alert status last Thursday in time of the turnover ceremony but we are retaining the alert status as part of our preparations for Sona," said Kison, citing potential threats posed by the mutinous Magdalo Group.
Security officials earlier said that about 1,000 military personnel would be deployed outside and inside the Batasan Complex, where the President will give her address, on top of 1,000 other soldiers who would be on standby for any eventuality.
On the other hand, at least 16,000 policemen would be deployed, mostly at the complex, due to alleged plans by communist rebels to lob a grenade at the ranks of anti-government rallyists to ignite anti-government sentiments.
Kison said it would be up to the discretion of the five other commanders of the military's unified area commands outside Metro Manila whether or not to declare red alert status in their respective areas of responsibility.
"There is an assumption that they are planning something. We recovered from them a blueprint of the Batasan Complex and seized explosives from them," said Kison, referring to the Magdalo Group that staged the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in 2003.
Six Magdalo officers were arrested by joint military and police operatives in a rented apartment in Fairview, Quezon City last July 7. They yielded a document entitled "Operation Plan Trident" which supposedly details the planned power grab.
The plot calls for the occupation of the Batasan Complex, holding hostage of the lawmakers, and conduct special operations against vital installations, including Malacañang and Camp Aguinaldo, and high-profile personalities.
But Kison expressed optimism that the chances of the power grab plot being carried out had been diminished following the discovery of the plan and the arrest of its officers led by Army Captain Nathaniel Rabonza. "The threat had been reduced but we have to make the preparations for Sona and declare red alert status. Its better to be prepared," he said.
According to him, the military is ready to deploy more troops to the streets if violence ensues.
The Arroyo government has quelled two major attempts to grab power - the Oakwood mutiny and last February's efforts by the group of former Scout Ranger Regiment commander Danilo Lim and former Marine commandant Renato Miranda. (VR/Sunnex)
(July 24, 2006 issue)
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