CAMP OLIVAS -- The entire Central Luzon police was placed on red alert status on in response to the tension that broke out in Makati on Thursday.
This, after Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brigadier General Danilo Lim, along with their other comrades, walked out of their coup d'etat hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) and led a march on the city streets before holing up at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.
Joined by other dissident officers and leaders from the opposition and the left, Trillanes and Lim were trying to call for a "people power" revolt by encouraging the public to reject the Arroyo administration.
Six major checkpoints have been set up in Sta. Cruz, Lubao; Gutad, Floridablanca; at the entrance of North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) in Mabalacat; City of San Fernando portion of Nlex; Caltex Station in San Simon; and Cacutud village in Arayat town.
Central Luzon police officials also clarified that there were no troop movements in major police and military camps in the region.
Police Regional Director Errol Pan said he has ordered the deployment of about 6,000 policemen in the region, who were spread out in all seven provinces and two cities -- Olongapo and Angeles.
Pan said checkpoints, some of which were reinforced by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, were put up at 11:50 a.m. to watch out for soldiers, policemen, and civilians on their way to Makati City and Manila to join the group of Trillanes and Lim.
Despite the red alert status, Pan also ordered police stations to perform usual police duties. (MHD)
