PNP lowers alert level after Erap verdict day

Ronron
September 13, 2007

The Philippine National Police (PNP) lowered effective Thursday afternoon its alert to the second of three-levels after observing a return to normalcy of the situation following the conviction the other day of former President Joseph Estrada for plunder.

The downgrading of the full alert to heightened alert status, however, does not include the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Special Action Force (SAF), said PNP Directorate for Operations chief Director Wilfredo Garcia.

“With the situation going normal after the promulgation of judgment on the plunder case against former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the alert status of the (PNP) is hereby downgraded from alert to heightened alert status effective 2pm today, September 13, 2007, except for NCRPO and SAF, (which) will remain at full alert status,” said Garcia in a memorandum he issued yesterday afternoon.

But despite the lowering of the alert level, Garcia said all regional directors “are directed to continue providing security to all vital installations, economic key points, places of convergence, and other probably and vulnerable targets.”

He said they should also continue to “intensify information and intelligence gathering to address security threats in their respective AOR’s (Areas of Responsibility).”

Should the situation calls for a raising of the alert level, Garcia said the regional commanders have the “discretion” to do so.

As for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the alert level remains on full alert as of Thursday. The AFP had earlier said that its alert will depend on the action of the PNP.

The police and military went on full alert a few days ago in preparation for the handing down of the Sandiganbayan’s verdict against Estrada, the 9/11 terrorist attack anniversary, possible attacks by terrorists due to the offensives in Basilan and Sulu, and possible attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) due to the apprehension of Jose Maria Sison in the Netherlands./DMS