PNP, AFP raise alert ahead of People Power I anniversary

By Ronron
February 21, 2007

The national police and military raised its alert level on Wednesday ahead of the anniversary of the People Power I Revolution that toppled the dictatorial rule of former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

The entire Philippine National Police (PNP) was placed on heightened alert effective 6am while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) went on red alert starting 8 am, officials said.

AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said the military’s red alert status is meant to “make sure that we are prepared (to respond) just in case something happens.”

But he was quick to say that there is no current destabilization threat against the Arroyo government similar to an alleged coup plot last year by rebel officers and civil societies critical to the President.

“Traditionally, when we commemorate People Power, we go on red alert. This is one way to ensure that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is prepared… Right now, everything is normal. We have not received any information leading to activities such as coup d’ etat or any destabilization effort,” Bacarro said.

On February 24, 2006, some officers of the AFP allegedly planned to join the rallies at EDSA by some civilians critical to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to spark another bloodless revolt that hopes to unseat Arroyo. The plot was botched after the top AFP leadership prevailed upon the alleged coup plotters.

In his memorandum to all police regional directors, PNP Directorate for Operations chief Director Wilfredo Garcia said yesterday: “In this regard, you are directed to strengthen your security measures of vital installations, economic key points, places of convergence and other probable targets and intensify intelligence gathering/monitoring to preempt/thwart threat groups from taking advantage of the situation.”

Bacarro said once the commemoration of the EDSA 1 Revolution ends tomorrow, the situation will be assessed for the possible downgrading of the alert level./END