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Saturday, March 25, 2006
Arroyo to address military grads despite slay plot
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is unfazed by a reported plan to kill her and would proceed to address the 2006 batch of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) who would graduate Saturday in Fort del Pilar in Baguio City.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said they have heard of the assassination plot but there has been no changes in the schedule of the President.
"Itong mga ganitong banta ay hindi po natin binabalewala iyan kaya't nasa pamunuan po ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) iyung pagsasagawa ng mga remedial and safety measures para huwag magkaroon ng anumang hindi kanais-nais na kaganapan habang nadoon po ang Pangulo," said Bunye, who is also Presidential spokesman. (We do not take this threat lightly and we leave it to the military to do remedial and safety measures so that nothing untoward would happen while the President is there.)
Bunye dismissed reports that some 1,000 soldiers, aside from the security already provided by the academy and by members of the Presidential Security Group, had been deployed to guard the President.
He said critics should not make a big issue out of the extra security deployed around Fort del Pilar.
He said it is only normal to take extra precaution since there are important persons attending the ceremony.
Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor said Arroyo is already aware of the assassination threat, but she still opted to proceed to Baguio City to attend the PMA graduation because this is already the tradition.
Defensor said Arroyo has been aware of the threats months back but she is committed to fulfilling her duties including addressing the new graduates.
He said they have known of the threat, particularly the assassination plot several months ago.
Defensor said the information came from the intelligence community, the military, and even the police.
He said it is also part of "Oplan: Hackle" designed by communist and misguided soldiers who conspired to bring her down.
Defensor said the groups, unable to force her out of office during the Edsa People Power I anniversary, had come up with the plot as a last course of action, which is either to hurt or even kill Arroyo.
He said they are aware that such attempt may be made during the graduation but the military and the PSG are prepared to secure the President.
As a consequence of the plot, guests coming in and going out of the Malacañang complex are subjected to inspections and those proceeding to the Palace would have to undergo three to four baggage inspections.
Aside from the 1,000 soldiers in Fort Magsaysay, two choppers had been put on standby within the PMA grounds in case of an emergency.
The military and the PMA want to ensure that no untoward incident, such as the explosion during the graduation rite attended by then President Corazon Aquino, would be repeated.
Defensor said they are also not concerned because they believe in the ability and capability of the military to repair and redeem itself from wayward actions of a few members who were linked to corruption and to plots to topple the administration.
Bunye said Arroyo, as the Commander in Chief, supports all measures to instill military justice, discipline, unity and morale in the military.
"These measures will be implemented in the course of the AFP modernization and reform agenda and will not be impinged upon by any form of politics. We hold the professional code of the Filipino soldier in the highest esteem. This is not only about the filing of court martial charges, this is also about instilling the true spirit of professionalism in the soldiery," he said. (JMR/Sunnex)
(March 25, 2006 issue)
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