THE FILIPINO PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASKING THE MILITARY AND POLICE FORCES, WHAT CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED OR IS ABOUT TO BE COMMITTED TO WARRANT THE WASTE OF TAXPAYER'S MONEY IN THIS EXTRAVAGANT DISPLAY OF FORCE AND PROTECTION FOR THE CORRUPT PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES?
IF GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO IS THE TRUE LEADER OF HER PEOPLE, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH CONCERN THAT THERE WILL BE A BACKLASH FROM THEM WHEN IN FACT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DECLARED THE PRESIDENT ELECT BY THE COMELEC IN 2004 AND OFFICIALLY SWORN IN TO OFFICE THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT?
NAP
Palace locks down for Erap verdict
Police barricaded roads leading to Malacañang with steel fences topped with barbed wire on Tuesday, the eve of the Sandiganbayan's ruling on the plunder and perjury charges against former president Joseph Estrada.
Late Tuesday night, policemen blocked the historic Don Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola) with steel barricades and a mobile unit. The palace gate leading from J.P. Laurel Street was also blocked with several container vans.
Earlier in the day, the Philippine National Police placed its forces in Metro Manila on full alert.
The Presidential Security Group, for its part, raised its alert and deployed two armored personnel carriers (APC) on standby in case of violent protests when the anti-graft court promulgates the cases against Estrada.
Armed PSG personnel on urban camouflage outfit have been tasked to secure the palace.
The Philippine Coast Guard has also been tasked to conduct round-the-clock patrols on the river near Malacañang.
Classes were also suspended in schools located in the Mendiola area. These schools are San Beda College, College of the Holy Spirit, Centro Escolar University, La Consolacion College, St. Jude College and San Sebastian College.
Business establishments near Malacañang were also shut down in anticipation of Wednesday’s promulgation at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City.
Authorities are wary that protest actions similar to the May 1, 2001 siege could erupt following Wednesday’s promulgation.
The siege, which killed four people and injured hundreds of others, took place when Estrada loyalists tried to storm Malacañang months after President Arroyo came to power.
Posted on Sep 11, 2007, 11:14 AM from IP address 69.3.237.158
