PNP raises alert level for mass actions

By Ronron
January 20, 2008

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday raised its alert level to the highest in Metro Manila and in its neighboring regions in preparation for the mass actions that will be held today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday) in the capital.

PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said the alert level for the rest of the regional offices was also placed on heightened so they could provide assistance to police forces in Metro Manila when necessary.

Bartolome said the full alert status for the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Police Regional Offices 3, 4-A, and 4-B, and the Special Action Force (SAF) took effect at 6am yesterday.

“While we secure the ranks of rallyists because they could be infiltrated, we also definitely will secure the majority that will be affected by the rallies – the students, those who will go to work, our ordinary citizens who use the roads t go to their respective activities,” Bartolome said.

He said they expect the rallyists to converge at the Chino Roces Bridge in Mendiola, at the EDSA Shrine, and at Welcome Rotonda.

Critics of the Arroyo government will hold protest actions Monday to commemorate the EDSA People Power II Revolution in 2001 that catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the presidency over Joseph Estrada.

They will be followed on Tuesday by militants from the peasant sector who will commemorate the 1987 Mendiola Massacre that left 13 farmers killed.

As early as Sunday, militant farmers from Southern Tagalog have already arrived in Baclaran area in Parañaque City to participate on Tuesday’s activity, said NCRPO chief Dir. Geary Barias.

Bartolome said the PNP raised its alert status because of persistent reports that power-grabbers may take advantage of the large gatherings in the capital by infiltrating their ranks.

He said this is highly possible because the last attempt to grab power was only less than two months ago, referring to the Manila Peninsula takeover by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim last November 29 in Makati City.

The government has been warning of a destabilization threat since the start of the year but cynics say this is just to provide basis, among others, for possible term extension of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. who will retire on February 9.

Five alleged destabilizers, four of whom are former servicemen, were nabbed last week in Quezon City, although they were just charged for illegal possession of firearms before the Department of Justice.

Even if two of the five were released later due to lack of evidence, authorities said the apprehension of the five substantiated their claim of a destabilization threat against the Arroyo administration./DMS