By Ronron
February 12, 2008
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias said Tuesday that contingency measures are lined up for the planned rally of militant and opposition groups on Friday in Makati City over the alleged corruption hounding the aborted National Broadband Network (NBN) project.
“Our forces in Makati are prepared all the time for whatever contingencies,” Barias told reporters in an interview in Cubao, Quezon City yesterday morning.
“We will be monitoring what is going to happen, and the size of the troops to secure the activity will depend on that,” he added.
Various groups critical of the Arroyo government have planned to gather this Friday in Makati City to raise “awareness” on the alleged corruption in the Arroyo administration as shown in the awarding of the NBN project to ZTE Corporation courtesy of the brokering of former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos.
A consultant of the project, Rodolfo Lozada, Jr., had alleged that Abalos sought a $130 million commission from ZTE Corporation. The same allegation was raised by Jose de Venecia III, whose Amsterdam Holdings, Inc. lost in the bid to get the $329 million project.
The ZTE scandal was revived last week after Lozada was perceived to have been purposely prevented by Malacanang to speak at the Senate hearing over the issue.
So far, only small groups have launched demonstrations since Friday and the activities were done at the Senate grounds in Pasay City while the hearing over the controversial deal was being conducted.
In a separate interview, Armed Forces NCR Command chief Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa said he will be ready to send his men to augment the NCRPO if needed.
“We have a reasonable size of force in Metro Manila… For as long as the rally is within the bounds of the law, then there is nothing for us to worry about. What is not good is if there will be violence during the rally. So we are watching them,” Mesa told reporters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City yesterday afternoon.
“If there will be instigators to violence, then the full force of the law will be handed to them,” he added.
As of yesterday, Barias said the police do not see any reason yet to raise the alert level in Metro Manila.
“We are still on normal alert,” he said, adding that the raising of the alert will depend on the developments as Friday approaches.
Mesa reiterated that no member of the military has so far been monitored to be openly taking sides following Lozada’s expose regarding the NBN project.
“There is nothing to worry. We have not monitored any recruitment. So far, our place is quiet,” he said. “I can assure our people, particularly here in Metro Manila, that the situation is normal, nothing to worry… We can sleep soundly.”
He said he always reminds his men to tow the line, follow the chain of command, and remain apolitical.
“We should always be able to strengthen and follow the chain of command because having that, then we will be able to contribute in strengthening the stability of our country. And that is what the economists are always looking for,” Mesa said.
So, the Lozada expose, he said, should not be able to affect the soldiery because “this is part of democracy, wherein if there are allegations, it has to be investigated.”
Mesa warned those who might take advantage of the crowd on Friday to destabilize the government that the police and military will be there to quell them like what happened on November 29, 2007 at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.
“The Armed Forces, together with the Philippine National Police, will always be vigilant. We will always be on the alert. And we will not allow them to be a cause for instability,” he said./DMS
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