RP police and military in MM go on full alert today (Saturday) for May 1 rallies

By Ronron
April 29, 2005

Anticipating a surge of people who will take the streets on May 1 in celebration of the Labor Day, the Philippine police and military command in Metro Manila will go on full alert beginning noon today (Saturday) to secure the metropolis.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be activating its Task Force Metro Manila Shield in preparation for the expected mass activities tomorrow (Sunday), while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) – National Capitol Region Command (NCRC) will put on stand by its land component, composed of three battalions, and its Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) battalion, for the same reason.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. will serve as overall commander of the PNP Task Force.

“The Task Force will implement security measures in close coordination with the NRC Command of the (AFP) to contain illegal assemblies, unruly mass actions, and other forms of civil disturbance,” the PNP statement said.

AFP-NCRC Public Information Officer Capt. Ramon Zagala said the military team will just await the PNP’s request for augmentation as its land component and CDM battalion will be prepared for deployment all over Metro Manila, particularly in Malacañang Palace.

“If the situation calls for it, we are ready to complement,” Zagala said.

While Razon had said the PNP might implement its full alert status until May 2, Zagala said the military counterpart only plans to put it in effect until evening of May 1. But should there be a need to extend it, Zagala said they are prepared to do so.

Various groups, including labor organizations, militant groups, supporters of former President Joseph Estrada and his close friend and former Presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr., and other groups critical to the Arroyo administration, are expected to mass up from Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila to Liwasang Bonifacio, also in Manila City, to air their grievances against the present government.

The rallyists, vowing to gather at least 50,000 individuals, had already promised they will hold their protest actions peacefully.

But the authorities are not automatically taking their word for it, saying it will even put up preventive security measures to prevent criminal and terrorist elements from taking advantage of the peaceful observance of Labor Day.

The PNP leadership has yet to receive reports of any direct or specific threat from any group or organization in connection with tomorrow’s activities./DMS