AFP calls for public's vigilance against groups that could take advantage of Lozada's expose

By Ronron
February 8, 2008

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is asking the public to be
vigilant of individuals and groups that may take advantage of the
expose made by Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada, Jr. over the aborted
National Broadband Network (NBN) project.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said the possibility that
some groups will use the issue in attacking the government and calling
for its downfall is always there.

"Some groups, it can be anybody like terrorists, can take advantage of
the situation so we urge the public to be vigilant," Bacarro told
reporters in Camp Aguinaldo yesterday afternoon several hours after
Lozada started speaking at the Senate inquiry.

On Thursday, a text message circulated, warning of alleged bombings in Metro
Manila to divert the attention of the public from the testimony of Lozada on the NBN controversy.

The text message reads: "I'm CA (civilian agent) R. Diaz in ISAF(P). Please help
me two publish sa lahat na tao pupunta sa nabanggit kong lugar tomorrow, Philippine time, 11am. Plan A. LRT Baclaran Terminal. Plan B. Tutuban Mall. Plan C. Uniwide
Quiapo. Plan D. SM Manila. Plan E. Robinson's Malate. Paki-advise naman sa mga mamamayan ng Manila 'wag sila punta muna sa mga lugar na yan kasi sa intelligence report namin, pasasabugin yan bukas para maligaw ang isyu sa Senado tungkol kay Lozada. Thanks. Please pass ASAP."

Bacarro said the intelligence unit of the AFP has already received said text message and efforts were done to verify its source and truthfulness.

But since it did not materialize on Friday morning, Bacarro said it clearly shows the text message was a hoax, with the intention of causing undue alarm and panic among the public.

So far, the only visible effect of the expose of Lozada on the NBN controversy are the mass demonstrations made by some groups, particularly at the Senate grounds in Pasay City.

"There are small groups who are staging rallies and mass
demonstrations. As we have said, we will allow the holding of these
rallies as long as they are peaceful," national police chief Gen.
Avelino Razon, Jr. said yesterday morning.

Razon said he has not heard of any reports that there will be diversionary efforts from the NBN controversy.

Razon and Bacarro clarified that at the moment, there are no
monitored destabilization plots yet against the government as a result
of Lozada's expose.

Some Senators have already called for President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's resignation after Lozada implied that First
Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo had knowledge on the alleged intention of
Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos to get a $130 million kickback if the
NBN project is awarded to ZTE Corporation.

In return, some cabinet members said this only shows how Lozada is
being used in a supposed conspiracy to overthrow the Arroyo
government.

To this, Razon just said: "We still have to look for a basis for that
because it's just pure talk without any basis."

Bacarro said the AFP National Capital Region Command has maintained
its red alert status up to this day since it was effected about three
weeks ago.

"On the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we do not involve
ourselves into matters which are political in nature but nonetheless,
there is always readiness on our part. We have units ready to respond
to any eventuality," he said./DMS