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Soldiers
tasked to augment policemen in maintaining peace and
order when the antigraft court renders its decision on
the plunder case of former President Joseph Estrada got
their final order on Tuesday—enforce the decision, be it
against or favorable to the fallen leader.
The
order was issued by the Armed Forces chief of staff,
Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., to battle-clad soldiers
whom he inspected at the grandstand of Camp Aguinaldo,
Quezon City, where he also announced that the military
is already on red alert.
When red
alert in imposed, all personnel are required to be in
their stations round the clock and all leaves and
furloughs are cancelled.
“We are
on alert so that we can uphold and enforce the decision
of the court. It does not matter to us what the verdict
is, the important thing is we uphold the verdict. Is
that clear?” Esperon, who is also in combat gear, told
the troops.
“We are
on alert so we can uphold and enforce the verdict. It is
our duty to the Republic. If ever there are those who do
not follow the verdict, we should make them follow,” he
added.
This
developed as the Quezon City police commander, Senior
Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula, urged Estrada supporters to
respect the law amid rumors that allies and followers of
the fallen leader would initiate riots on Wednesday if
the Sandiganbayan hands down a guilty decision against
the former President.
Gatdula
said the Quezon City Police District will deploy
additional policemen to the premises of the
Sandiganbayan on Wednesday to monitor the peace and
security situation there.
Gatdula
reminded protesters that a memorandum issued by the
Supreme Court prohibits demonstrations within a
200-meter radius of the Sandiganbayan building.
He
joined mounting calls for sobriety as the promulgation
of the decision in the case looms. Last week various
personalities have issued statements calling for unity
and sobriety no matter what decision is handed down by
the Sandiganbayan in the plunder case against Estrada.
Esperon
inspected more than 1,400 soldiers, including members of
elite forces and crowd-dispersal units, armored
personnel carriers, an attack helicopter and several
trucks.
He
emphasized to the troops that they would only act as
augmentation forces to the more than 6,000 policemen who
have been tasked to maintain order in Metro Manila on
Wednesday.
While
about 200 soldiers would be dispatched near the
Sandiganbayan to help policemen contain the crowd that
is expected to gather, he said that the troops would
stay in their headquarters.
He said
that the Air Force, Navy and the Army would monitor
developments from their camps and headquarters.
Esperon
justified the imposition of red alert, saying that the
Armed Forces received reports that some groups might
take advantage of the situation and create trouble. He,
however, ruled out the involvement or participation of
soldiers.
“We are
preparing because some groups might sow chaos because
they cannot accept the decision of the court,” he said.
“I do
not see any element from the Armed Forces that would
participate in any kind of destabilization. I don’t see
any group doing these unauthorized activities,” he
added.
Likewise, he dismissed rumors that some Army Scout
Ranger and Marine Corps officials who are being tried on
coup charges may still have influence over their former
men and might be induced to join Wednesday’s protest
actions.
“They
have personal relationships with their troops, but in
terms of command, they no longer have influence. Our
soldiers listen to their commanders,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Police went on heightened alert
at midnoon on Tuesday.
Deputy
Director General Avelino Razon Jr., National Police
deputy chief for administration, said the nationwide
alert was imposed to ensure that all policemen are
available and on call.
“The
principal consideration for the alert is for us to be
able to generate the maximum number of personnel to face
the many tasks the National Police may have to face,” he
said.
In an
earlier statement, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (PCCI) urged the public to stay united in
order to maintain the country’s economic uptrend.
PCCI
honorary chairman Miguel Varela said the Estrada case
“should not be seen as a stumbling block to the gains
the country has achieved over the last five years.”
PCCI
chairman Donald Dee, for his part, said, “This is the
time to put everything behind and move on immediately
after the case has been decided.”
Also
joining calls for sobriety were Manila archbishop
Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, who, last week, urged the
public to accept whatever decision the Sandiganbayan
hands down in the Estrada plunder case; and Deputy
Speaker for Mindanao Simeon Datumanong, who said, “I
call on Estrada supporters to observe sobriety
throughout the period that we await the court’s
decision. And if they find the court’s verdict adverse
to them, then they should resort to the appeals process
instead of destabilization and fomenting unrest.” |
