Philippine Government Declares "State of Alert"The Philippine government declared a "state of alert" November 26 in anticipation of possible violence arising from next week's protests by various groups pressing for the resignation of President Joseph Estrada.The government's move came after reports from the police and the military that "dubious characters and groups" are out to create havoc by joining militant groups which would spearhead the week-long mass actions, Press Undersecretary Antonio Seva said in an interview with the ABS-CBN news channel. "A state of alert has already been declared by the government for all the local government units, the police and the military to be vigilant," Seva said. Seva, however, was quick to douse off speculations that the declaration of a "state of alert" is a prelude to the declaration of martial law. Military and police intelligence reports confirmed a plan of the rebel New People's Army to sow terror during the mass actions by using its members to infiltrate protesters reportedly planning to encircle the Presidential Palace, said the ABS-CBN. Earlier, Press Undersecretary Mike Toledo said a "substantial" number of the rebel groups had arrived in Metro Manila to create violence by participating in the series of protest actions against the government to push for their own political agenda. Some 18,000 cops and soldiers will reportedly be fielded in different parts of Metro Manila to ensure peace and order during the week of mass actions. President Estrada, facing an impeachment trial which will start early next month, appealed to the people Saturday not to join protest actions next week, saying sobriety, not emotionalism, is needed to ride out the present political crisis. The crisis stemmed from allegations by a provincial governor that the president received more than US$11 million in illegal gambling payoffs and tobacco tax kickbacks in nearly two years in the past. Estrada has denied the charges and rejected calls for his resignation. The president will be removed from office if at least two thirds of the 22-member Senate vote to convict him. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |