Security at Makati court tightened today

By Ronron
December 10, 2007

The security at the Makati City court will be tightened for today’s (Tuesday) hearing of the coup d’ etat case of the Magdalo group to avoid another walkout of some of the accused like what happened last November 29.

At least 1,300 military and police forces will be deployed for the security set-up that will begin from the route of the accused up to the Makati City hall building itself, officials said Monday.

Southern Police District (SPD) chief Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman said the security forces will be composed of the following: 1,100 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM); 70 from the Makati City Police; 120 from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center; and, 70 from the SPD Swat.

“This is sizeable because we wouldn’t want another walkout or escape staged by the group of Trillanes,” PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said.

During the November 29 hearing at the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148, 14 of the accused Magdalo officers and soldiers walked out as defense witness Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim was about to undergo cross-examination. Lim was testifying on his personal knowledge about the agreement arrived at that ended the takeover by the Magdalo Group of the Oakwood Hotel also in Makati City last July 27, 2003.

The accused who walked out, led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, marched, along with Lim, towards the Manila Peninsula Hotel, which they took over for five to six hours and where they called for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, NCRCOM spokesman Capt. Carlo Ferrer said NCRCOM chief Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa assured that the November 29 incident “will never happen again.”

“(Gen. Mesa) commanded the troops to prevent at all cost a repeat of the walkout of the accused,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer said the troops from the NCRCOM will come from the Philippine Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion and the Philippine Air Force’ 750th Combat Group.

He said half of the military troops will be securing the Makati City hall premises, while the rest will be dispersed in the route of the accused from Camp Crame in Quezon City and Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Aside from the sizeable military personnel, the AFP has also set up a communications van outside the Makati City hall, Ferrer said.

He said among the scenarios being considered is the possible escape of the accused through the Pasig River located behind the city hall building.

Ferrer said until authorities are able to account for the missing suspects in the November 29 incident, the government will always take into consideration that the detained suspects might escape or be sprung out by their sympathizers./DMS