GLORIA ARROYO GOES INTO HIDING, MALACANANG PALACE NOW A FULLY ARMED FORTRESS.
by Napanice (no login)
THE MILITARY HAS SETUP UP TANKS AND ARMORED TRUCKS AND THE POLICE HAS PLACED RAZOR WIRES AND BARRICADES TO BLOCK ALL ROADS TO MALACANANG. THE PALACE GROUNDS ARE HEAVILY PATROLLED BY PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY GUARDS ACCOMPANIED BY TRAINED GUARD DOGS THAT CAN ATTACK TO KILL.
ALL VEHICLES ENTERING AND LEAVING THE PALACE GATES ARE STOPPED AND OCCUPANTS AND VEHICLES ARE SUBJECTED TO A COMPLETE SEARCH FOR ANY WEAPONS, BOMBS OR EVEN UNAUTHORIZED CAMERAS OR RECORDERS. NEWS FROM THE GOVERNMENT IS ONLY ALLOWED THROUGH DESIGNATED OFFICIALS AND PUBLICLY RELEASED ONLY THROUGH NEWS MEDIA ALLIED TO THE PRESIDENT.
MILITARY AND POLICE PERSONNEL IN AND AROUND THE PALACE ARE FULL BATTLE AND RIOT GEAR, A GRIM REMINDER OF THE DAYS WHEN A MAMMOTH CROWD OF THE POOR AND UNDERPRIVILEGED SUPPORTS OF ESTRADA TRIED TO STORM THE PALACE BY THROWING STICKS AND ROCKS. A FEW HOURS LATER, THE DEAD AND BLOODIED BODIES OF THE PROTESTERS LAYED SPRAWLED ON THE STREETS AS THE CROWD WAS VIOLENTLY DISPERSED BY SNIPER GUNSHOTS WHO STARTED TO FIRE POINTBLANK AT THE DEMONSTRATORS.
THE END OF THE ROAD FOR ESTRADA HAS FINALLY BEEN REACHED AND HIS SUPPORTERS ARE ONCE AGAIN READY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR ANGER AND RESENTMENT AT THE LACK OF JUSTICE AND UNDEMOCRATIC WAY IN WHICH THEIR ELECTED LEADER WAS SUBJECTED TO.
NAP
Arroyo mum as Sandiganbayan rules on Erap
President Arroyo has remained quiet and even canceled her trip to Batangas province on the day the Sandiganbayan rules on the plunder and perjury charges of deposed president Joseph Estrada.
Mrs. Arroyo called off her trip to Lipa City where she was scheduled to lead the National Day of Prayer Wednesday.
The decision to postpone the trip was made during a Cabinet meeting in Malacañang Tuesday.
The Presidential Security Group, meanwhile, raised its alert and has 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.
Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, meanwhile, advised motorists not to steer clear of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday.
"Hangga’t maari sa mga motorist natin, iwasan n'yo ang Commonwealth Avenue bukas. At sa mga magra-rally kung pwede po ay tumabi tayo. Huwag naman sa kalye kasi nakakaabala (To our motorists, do not use Commonwealth Avenue on Wednesday. For ralliers, please do your demonstrations by the roadside, not in the middle of the road)," Fernando said.
In a related development, palace officials said the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday did not touch on issues related to Estrada.
Sergio Apostol, the President's chief legal counsel and Estrada's impeachment prosecutor, said Mrs. Arroyo showed no reaction with the impending verdict on the deposed leader.
“She has her cards close to her heart,” Apostol said.
Now they say...
Elsewhere, groups that called for Estrada's ouster in six years ago are now singing a different tune.
Father Joe Dizon of Plunderwatch and Erap Resign Movement said: "In due time we will have to bring the Arroyo government to the proper forum for corruption, political killing and electoral fraud."
In 2003, the Plunderwatch lost interest to pursue the plunder charges against Estrada after witnessing how the case was being politicized.
"Ang problema sa ngayon mas marami na ang ayaw kay Gloria at gusto kay Erap kaya anumang maging desisyon diyan ay yayanig sa Arroyo government (The problem now is that more people are against Gloria and have transferred allegiance to Erap. So whatever the decision is, it will surely rock the Arroyo government)," Dizon said
Former senator Teofisto Guingona has also changed his stand.
After his privilege speech that launched the investigations and eventually the impeachment trial of Estrada, Guingona now wants the Sandiganbayan decision to be in favor of the former president.
The former senator stood by Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson's allegations that Estrada received millions of pesos worth of kickbacks from jueteng and the tobacco excise tax collections.
Among those with Guingona in the opposition were Senators Aquilino Pimentel, Loren Legarda and former Senate president Franklin Drilon.
Guingona, who was tapped by Mrs. Arroyo as her vice-president, now believes that Estrada has already paid for whatever he did in the past.
The former senator said that it is enough that Estrada was imprisoned for six years while awaiting the verdict on his cases.
"He has undergone enough sufferings and he has transformed," Guingona said.
He, however, clarified that his current position on Estrada has nothing to do with his sentiments against Mrs. Arroyo. He explained that he is more concerned for the healing of the nation’s wounds.
Posted on Sep 11, 2007, 3:21 PM from IP address 69.3.237.158
