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Saturday, January 15, 2005
Military, police ‘ready’ for Estrada's return
MANILA -- Military and police authorities are prepared to maintain peace and order when former President Joseph Estrada returns to the country on Saturday from Hong Kong, where he had knee surgery.
Ignacio Bunye, a spokesman of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said government troops and policemen are on alert and are expected to provide security to Estrada and maintain law and order at the same time.
Estrada flew to Hong Kong on December 27 for his knee surgery and was operated on in January.
The former president is expected to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) at 1 p.m. on board Philippine Airlines Flight PR 309.
He will be taken directly to his detention cell in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal, after a brief pause at the airport's presidential lounge as his request to stay in his house in Greenhills, San Juan has not yet been acted on.
Estrada will be transported in helicopter from the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. Another helicopter will serve as a security escort.
Bunye reiterated that Estrada's return and his intention to unify the opposition are welcome developments, as a united opposition would give the public an alternative or basis of comparison in terms of programs and views.
He also dismissed warnings of political instability and threats against the Arroyo administration stressing that the report has "no basis in objective political conditions".
He said he is confident that the military and police would remain loyal to the Arroyo administration and would not join any destabilization attempts.
"Our institutions of governance are working as one to uphold the public interest. The national leadership stands on moral high ground. Reform in the military is ongoing," Bunye said. (JMR/JFF)
(January 15, 2005 issue)
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