By Ronron
February 14, 2008
Philippine military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said Thursday that Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) elements are out to assassinate President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In a news conference at Camp Aguinaldo, Esperon said the plot is "a rolling plan," wherein the ASG and JI elements will hit if they have the opportunity.
"We have now a report on an active attempt on the life of the President herself and this has become the basis of our actions for putting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in full state of preparedness," he said.
"You can name it but I know that one is by direct assassination by a sniper," he said when asked how the plot will be executed.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said the police got the report from documents turned over to police by a security guard in Metro Manila last week.
"In the ensuing investigation, it was learned that the documents were recovered in a parking lot somewhere in the Metro Manila area. It was initially theorized that the documents were accidentally left by its owner," Razon said in a statement.
According to him, the documents contained writings in Arabic text and when translated, disclosed plans of monitoring some embassies and carrying out bombings, as well as targeting the President.
"After an initial analysis, the (PNP Intelligence Group) concluded that the documents outlined a plan to case monitor several locations and individuals to include (Arroyo). In its report, the IG stated that it is certain that the movements of the President, particularly the presidential convoy, are being monitored," Razon said.
Razon said it appears from the document that those behind the plots are the ASG and JI, and they initially learned that the supposed perpetrators are already in the capital.
Asked if this means the ASG and JI are already physically present in Metro Manila, Esperon just said: "We will give an update on that in due time."
Razon said follow up operations are ongoing against the supposed perpetrators.
While Esperon admitted that there are also other groups with the same plan, he opted not to disclose it yet due to ongoing efforts to validate it.
Razon explained that immediately after receiving the report, and having it initially checked by the PNP IG, they passed the information to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and advised for the limited movement of the President.
The PNP also sought the assistance of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency on the matter, said Razon.
Esperon denied that the disclosure of the Arroyo kill plot was just an excuse for authorities to heighten the alert level in Metro Manila and nearby regions so as to discourage ordinary people from joining today's (Friday) rally in Makati City.
"We are doing this not out of the political question. We are simply acting as security forces and so we have deemed it necessary that we come up in the open about our assessment of the situation," he said.
Various groups – cause-oriented, militants, civilians, religious, and the political opposition – will gather at 4pm today at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas to express support to Rodolfo Lozada, Jr., a witness to the ZTE-NBN deal scandal.
The AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM had already raised its alert level to the highest status at 7pm Wednesday in preparation for the rally, particularly because of reports that communist rebels will infiltrate the ranks of the mass demonstrators.
But aside from this alleged threat, Esperon said yesterday that a new group composed of former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who were allegedly responsible for the toppling of power transmission towers in Central Mindanao have plans also of attacking Metro Manila.
"As there had been a lot of agitations, some apprehensions brought about by charges and counter-charges in connection with the hearings at the Senate and there are further expressions of support in the form of rallies or some prayer rallies, we know that this could be taken advantage of by some groups. And so we are putting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in full state of preparedness," Esperon said.
Told that some sectors might question the timing of their coming out with the Arroyo kill plot, Esperon said: "Well, it would be better to say it now rather than say it when things have happened."
"I used to be with the Presidential Security Group so I must tell you that the assassination attempts (against the President) are real," he added.
Esperon said the kill plot report was one of the reasons why the PSG recommended that Arroyo no longer proceed to Baguio City this weekend for the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Homecoming.
While under a full state of preparedness, the entire AFP, said Esperon, should be prepared all the time to respond in cases of emergencies, especially when events turn violent.
"We are putting the (AFP) in full state of preparedness first, to support the Philippine National Police; second, to be in tandem with them (PNP); and third, to act unilaterally if there is a need to counter any violent actions from enemies of the State," he said.
Esperon said PNP forces will be expected to guard the entry points to Metro Manila today to conduct "routine checks" to prevent the entry of armed rebels who may join the ranks of rallyists.
And if there is a need for their troops, he said the AFP is prepared to send an augmentation force to police.
The military chief said they have nothing against the holding of the rally because it is part of the Constitutional rights of Filipinos. But he said the military and the police will closely monitor it because of the alleged threat of infiltration by communist rebels and terrorists.
At the same time, he assured that no member of the military is participating in political activities in support of Lozada, who has accused former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos of getting a $130 million kickback from ZTE Corporation for brokering the National Broadband Network (NBN) project.
"As you also know, there have been a lot of disinformation that have been going around so I would like to take this opportunity to assure the public, the Filipino people that there is no truth to the rumors that some generals have signified their intention to join destabilization attempts. It is not also true that junior officers
have joined in this destabilization attempt," he said.
"These are simply rumors and disinformation messages that have been going around to put a crack on the solidarity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," he added.
In a separate news conference at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City earlier in the day, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano said he will not hesitate to take drastic action against Army enlisted personnel and officers who violate their Constitutional mandate to remain apolitical.
"We will strictly impose the laws that govern military discipline. We are all aware that any soldier who defies authority becomes an outlaw and a disgrace to his uniform. Such soldiers will be dealt with drastically," he said.
Yano admitted that there was a need for him to make a statement on their loyalty to the Constitution and Arroyo, the commander-in-chief of the AFP, because of the current political noise.
"At this point, I would like to assure you that the Armed Forces of the Philippines remains a very Constitutional organization, and it shall not allow any extra-legal action anytime. And therefore, we are ready to put our counter-forces against any attempt for any extra-legal action," Esperon said.
He said so far, no one has called him up from the oust Arroyo groups to get his support.
Esperon also denied reports that authorities are monitoring members of the media.
He said that while he shares the call of Lozada to end corruption in government, this does not mean he believes Lozada's account or dismisses it as pure lies.
"I can't say at this point that I believe him. I can't also say that it's false because so far, there is no evidence presented," Esperon said.
He said the issue brought out by Lozada should be brought to court to finally put an end to it./DMS
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