Ping: Most painful decision of my life

"This is the hardest and most painful decision in my entire life."

This was how Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson described his breakaway from President Estrada yesterday.

Lacson told a press conference he telephoned Mr. Estrada before he formally announced his decision before television cameras, along with his officers at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

"I bade him goodbye and informed him about my defection," he said. "He wanted to see me one day to talk about all the things that caused all these events."

Lacson was reportedly forced to part ways with Mr. Estrada after an hour of negotiations with Deputy Director General Leandro Mendoza, chief of the PNP’s Transnational Crime Commission.

Right after news of the defection of Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes and his major service commanders, Mendoza took over Lacson’s office.

"We therefore officially declare our withdrawal of support from the commander-in-chief, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada," Lacson said.

He, however, assured the public that the PNP will continue to serve and protect the interest of the people and maintain peace and order as mandated by law.

A bloody standoff was reportedly averted when Lacson conceded to his colleagues’ advice to withdraw his support from Mr. Estrada.

"The PNP under my leadership is supporting the popular demand of the people and in order to maintain the integrity of the PNP institution," Lacson said.

Lacson was reportedly forced to withdraw support from Mr. Estrada after police officials occupied his office at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
The takeover of Lacson’s office and those of his allies, Deputy Director Generals Reynaldo Wycoco and Romeo Acop, was reportedly carried out while Lacson was meeting with Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio Honasan, and Gen. Jake Malajacan outside Camp Crame.

At around noon, policemen from Southern Tagalog and Camp Crame stormed the headquarters of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force. The policemen were led by Superintendents Marcelo Garbo, Francisco Cristobal, Edgardo de Leon, Danilo Maligalig, Danilo Siongco, and Chief Inspector Ely Cruz.

Without firing a shot, the policemen easily occupied the PAOCTF offices. They were supposed to take into custody Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino, the task force’s operations chief.
Aquino was reportedly targeted because of his alleged role in the relief and transfer of numerous policemen to assignments in far-flung areas.

Heavily armed policemen from Southern Tagalog were reportedly smuggled inside Camp Crame before the offices of Lacson and the PAOCTF were occupied yesterday.

Two companies of Special Action Force policemen, who were assigned to defend Camp Crame from attackers, were caught off guard by the intruders.

They later shifted loyalties after the headquarters support battalion under the command of Deputy Director General Nestorio Gualberto joined the attackers.

Metro Manila policemen also took part in the occupation of Camp Crame yesterday.

Metro Manila police commander Director Edgardo Aglipay talked with the directors of the five metro police districts before carrying out the collective decision of withdrawing their support from Mr. Estrada.

Aglipay said their decision to withdraw allegiance to the Chief Executive was a spontaneous reaction and that they are willing to face the consequences.

"We are here to support the people," he said at a press conference with the five district directors yesterday.

Aglipay urged Lacson to support the people’s demand for Mr. Estrada’s resignation.– With reports from Pia Lee-Brago, Non Alquitran, and Liberty Dones