PSG personnel go on full red alert

Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander Col. Delfin Bangit has tightened security over the entire Malacañang Palace grounds and placed the presidential guard under red alert since Friday night.

Armored personnel carriers (APCs) were rolled out and posted on J. P. Laurel, Mendiola and Arlegui streets to block entrances leading to the country’s seat of government.

Massive troop build-up was also ordered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the wake of reports that a group of disgruntled junior military officers has not abandoned their supposed plot to topple the Arroyo government despite earlier assurances.

Field police and military combatants in full gear have been arriving at Camps Aguinaldo and Crame, in an apparent show of force to discourage any adventurous group from staging a coup.

"Naka-red alert kami ngayon (We are on red alert now). We have already deployed our tanks and armored personnel carriers along major thoroughfares leading to Metro Manila," military and police commanders told The STAR.

This high alert defensive posture came even as Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes tried to douse cold water on the persistent coup rumors.

Whether there is truth to the rumor going around that a new coup d’ etat is in the offing, Bangit told The STAR he could not ignore such news while it is still being verified by PSG’s intelligence units and other government agencies.

"I should be the last unit to be caught unaware," Bangit pointed out. "It is my mission to preserve the seat of government and the security of the President whoever is here (in office) and my instruction (to the PSG troopers) is we would defend the Palace to the last man standing," he stressed.

Over Radio Mindanao Network yesterday, Bunye clarified that the "troop movements" in the Palace and at the AFP headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo were "normal precautionary measures" being undertaken in preparation for the President’s State of the Nation Address before Congress tomorrow.

This was affirmed by official statements from the AFP and the PNP saying troop build-up in Metro Manila was just part of the security mantle they are throwing in preparation for the President’s SONA.

The coup rumors started when members of the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA) Class 1994 and 1995, who were now mostly captains in various services of the AFP, aired their grievances against the government.

Representatives of the two classes, however, assured Mrs. Arroyo during a dinner she hosted last Wednesday, that there was no truth to the rumored coup plots against her.

The following day, Mrs. Arroyo asked the public to stay calm, citing that the AFP chief of staff is "in control of the situation".

"There has been some understandable restiveness but I have resolved this matter directly with the troops," Mrs. Arroyo said.

But after the dinner meeting with the young officers, the PSG reportedly deployed their APCs all over the Palace grounds.

Bangit could not confirm reports that at least four officers assigned to secure former Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) leader-turned Senator Gregorio Honasan have gone AWOL and might be part of the coup plotters.

"I received similar intelligence reports but we have no verification yet," he said.

Military and police sources, however, confirmed to The STAR, that there was a tie-up between disgruntled officers and men of the Army’s Scout Rangers and the Marines with military and police forces who are still loyal to deposed President Joseph Estrada, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Honasan.

As of yesterday afternoon, senior intelligence officials from the AFP and the PNP met in a closed door conference to assess the security measures implemented around Metro Manila due to the rumored coup plot.

"Paghahanda lahat ito laban sa (These are all in preparation against the) coup at sa (and) security during the SONA," a senior police officer said.

As this developed, Senator Aquilino Pimentel said that young officers have the right to grumble but staging a coup d’ etat is not the answer to their gripes.

He said "it could just be pakulo (show) but I do say that there are adequate bases for the rank and file soldiers to really get mad."

Pimentel cited that the fund for the AFP retirees’ benefits has been bled dry without the eligible beneficiaries receiving their dues.

"Every month, a certain percentage of a soldier’s pay is being deducted to build-up the retirees service benefit, so they have the right to get mad if the money will just go to unknown hands," Pimentel said. — With Jaime Laude, Paolo Romero, Pamela Samia