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Friday, February 15, 2008
Palace bares assassination plot v. Arroyo
MANILA -- Officials divulged alleged plots Thursday to assassinate President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and bomb foreign embassies, just as opposition leaders were rallying supporters for fresh protests urging the President to resign.
Brigadier General Romeo Prestoza, head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), said the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and its allies were behind the plans.
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Arroyo cancelled her attendance to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Homecoming in Baguio City on Saturday due to "serious security threat" including a possible assassination plot against her, PSG commander Romeo Prestoza said.
Prestoza, in an interview at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang, said the threats were unraveled by the police last week and came from terrorists groups Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and its local ally Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
He said the President was one of the personalities targeted by the JI. He also mentioned that there were "others" targeted including some embassies but specific details would have to come from the police and intelligence officials.
Prestoza said they are still assessing the security situation and preparations in the President's other engagements outside the Palace to determine if there will be other activities that would be cancelled.
He said they decided to forego the PMA alumni homecoming, which will be held at a big venue and to be attended by a big crowd.
The PSG official added that members of the Special Operations Group are now in Baguio coordinating with security officials in the area.
According to Prestoza, the PSG is now coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the intelligence community to ensure the security and safety of the President and the rest of the First Family.
Details were scant, sparking criticism that the government was using scare tactics to curtail a planned anti-Arroyo demonstration Friday in Makati, Manila's financial district, and a prayer rally involving the influential Roman Catholic church Sunday that will be led by former President Corazon Aquino.
Arroyo, a staunch US ally plagued by long-running Islamic and communist insurgencies, has lurched from crisis to crisis since taking over in the country's second "people power" revolt in 2001, fending off three impeachment bids and four coup plots. She has two years left in her term.
Her latest challenge intensified last week when former government consultant Rodolfo Lozada Jr. linked resigned Commission on Elections chief Benjamin Abalos Sr. and Arroyo's husband to the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China firm ZTE Corp.
Both Abalos and First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo have denied the allegations, and President Arroyo has not spoken directly about her husband's alleged involvement.
But Prestoza said the cancellation of Arroyo's trip to Baguio City had nothing to do with the rally being organized by the opposition Friday and the ongoing Senate investigations on the alleged irregularities in the cancelled NBN project.
He also denied that the report on the assassination plot was timed to divert the attention of the public from the current issues.
He added that the "threat is always a serious thing. Assassination attempt is always serious."
Prestoza said aside from the terrorist threats, the "usual threats from the left" is also present, dismissing there is a possible threat from military adventurists.
However, Prestoza said the PSG does not need to declare a red alert status "because the PSG is always ready to ensure the security and safety of the President and the entire First Family."
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the threats against the President should not come as a surprise as it comes with the job.
Ermita said this is why a specific unit, the PSG, had been created to ensure the safety and security of the President. "There's always a presumption that there's a threat," he said, adding that this also applies to other world leaders.
PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. said it got hold of several documents detailing the planned assassination of President Arroyo as early as last week.
"In the ensuing investigation, it was learned that the documents were recovered in a parking lot somewhere in the Metro Manila area. It was initially theorized that the documents were accidentally left by its owner," said Razon.
Razon said the documents are now with the PNP's Intelligence Group, which has conducted initial analysis of the document. He did not name the people involved in the plot but Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. earlier tagged the JI and the Abu Sayyaf.
"After an initial analysis, the Intelligence Group concluded that the documents outlined a plan to case monitor several locations and individuals to include PGMA (President Arroyo). In its report, the Intelligence Group stated that it is certain that the movements of the President, particularly the presidential convoy, are being monitored," said Razon.
He said based on the documents, the PNP recommended to the PSG to limit the movement of President Arroyo as much as possible amidst the threat on her life.
Razon also justified the scrapping of the attendance of the President on the PMA alumni homecoming.
"On the scrapping of the President's attendance to the PMA alumni homecoming over the weekend, it was deemed necessary since her visit has already been widely disseminated. The PNP's position is that only a few should know about the details of the President's movements while its inquiry is still ongoing," he said.
The President had been invited by members of the PMA Class of 1978, which has adopted her as a member, to attend the homecoming. The class is the senior host of the event.
Esperon, for his part, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has placed its troops under "full state of preparedness," citing plans by terrorists to assassinate President Arroyo and plans by communist rebels to sow violence on Friday's rallies in Makati City.
"As there has been a lot of agitations, some apprehensions brought about by charges and counter-charges in connection with the hearings at the Senate and there are further expressions of support which shall take in the form of rallies," he said.
He added: "We know that this could be taken advantage of by some groups and so we are putting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in full state of preparedness, first to support to Philippine National Police; second, to be in tandem with them; and third, to act unilaterally if there is a need to counter any violent actions from enemies of the state."
Esperon said the declaration of the full state of preparedness would allow military units to prepare for any contingency action.
He also said the AFP's National Capital Region Command has been on red alert status since Wednesday night.
"We shall add more forces or act accordingly as the situation develops. In the ensuing days, we might bring in (to Metro Manila) some more assets but this will all be, I would say, very calibrated and which we thing would be what is needed," he said.
Esperon detailed plans by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), to infiltrate the ranks of the rallyists who would be gathering in Makati City to show support for Lozada.
"Reports have come in and among reports that we have gathered are one, the armed elements of the CPP/NPA will infiltrate unspecified rallies and provoke or agitate people into violent actions," Esperon said.
"Second, some elements that used to belong to the Moro Islamic liberation Front have formed themselves into a separate faction to carry out violent activities which have so far included the toppling of power transmission towers in Mindanao and now there are reports that they are bringing their action to Metro Manila and will hit at high value targets. Third, we have now a report on an active attempt on the life of the President herself and this has become the basis of our actions for putting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in full state of preparedness," he added. (JMR/VR/Sunnex/With AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (February 15, 2008 issue)
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