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Saturday, February 25, 2006
Police warn of more warrantless arrests, media takeover (4:00 p.m.)
MANILA -- Philippine National Police chief Director Arturo Lomibao warned Saturday of warrantless arrests and takeover of media entities who "continue to contribute to an atmosphere of instability."
Lomibao in a news conference said the national police is empowered to perform such tasks as stipulated under General Order 5 as contained in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Proclamation 1017 or the declaration of the State of National Emergency.
On Friday, President Arroyo declared a state of national emergency hours after the military claimed to have foiled a plot to unseat her.
Police raided the Daily Tribune newspaper, a broadsheet newspaper that has been critical of Arroyo, in Manila Saturday dawn.
In mid-morning of Saturday, Representative Crispin Beltran was arrested in Bulacan province over a 21-year-old arrest warrant for charges of inciting to rebellion.
Ramon Montaņo, former constabulary chief and national security adviser of then President Fidel Ramos was also "invited for questioning" while playing golf in Cavite province.
Lomibao told reporters that General Order no. 5 authorizes the police to carry out necessary and appropriate acts.
"Today, we are treading in abnormal times... the military has crushed the plot but some of those responsible for it are still out there," Lomibao said.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Generoso Senga said the security situation is beginning to normalize, even as he issued the guidelines to soldiers pertaining to the implementation of the state of national emergency.
Interviewed in Camp Aguinaldo, Senga noted that the remaining threat against Arroyo was the expected street protests over the declaration of Proclamation 1017.
"We had a conference in the morning... we have assessed the situation (but) I instructed them to maintain the level of vigilance at a significant level," Senga said.
Asked if threats of a coup d' etat still remain, Senga said: "None... there are planned mass actions which we should watch so we can take appropriate action although the primary effort will come from the police."
Senga also reiterated that the military remains steadfast to the chain of command and the Constitution.
Before dawn Friday, the military announced that it has foiled a plot to unseat President Arroyo by pressuring Senga into withdrawing his support from her.
Subsequently, Army Brigadier General Danilo Lim was relieved as commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment and taken into custody while Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin was placed under investigation for supposedly planning to join Friday's street protests and declared their withdrawal of support to the President.
Before noon Friday, the President declared a state of national emergency, citing a "clear and present danger" posed by the alliance between groups from the right and extreme left and the political opposition.
"First, we will help maintain public order, peace and safety, secure vital installations, ensure the unhampered delivery of services, and stop mass actions," he said. (Sunnex)
Philippine politics, perpetually in crisis
Pre-emptive strikes undercut coup plot, opposition
Ramos hits emergency state proclamation (11:08 a.m.)
Gov't cracks down on opposition, media
Arroyo declares state of emergency; markets spooked, peso down
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