Task Force Dubya ready

"Task Force Dubya" is ready and all systems are go.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is all set for the eight-hour state visit of United States President George W. Bush today.

Massive traffic jams are expected in Manila as various groups stage pro- and anti-US rallies and a portion of Roxas Boulevard is closed to traffic the whole day. There will be no flights in and out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for about two hours in preparation for Bush’s arrival.

"Security preparations for the visit are very tight and there should be no reason for undue alarm," President Arroyo said in a statement yesterday amid Malacañang’s frantic preparations for the visit, the sixth by a sitting US president to the Philippines.

Despite the mass protests that various militant groups are expected to stage, the PNP sees no major security threats during the visit. Even communist rebels gave assurance yesterday that they had no plans of bringing harm to Bush and his entourage.

PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the intelligence community is continuously monitoring other potential threats.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco was designated as the overall ground commander of Task Force Dubya, which will provide the perimeter security for Bush and his party.

Velasco said the PNP is deploying a total of 11,044 police personnel for the Bush visit. These police officers will secure Bush and provide security along the US leader’s route from either the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City or Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City, where he will address a joint session of Congress.

A large number of the police force deployed for the state visit was assigned to crowd control duty.

This deployment of PNP personnel coincides with the denial of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that they are plotting to assassinate Bush.

CPP spokesman Gregorio Rosal pledged that the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA) will not attempt to assassinate the US leader. "It is true that George Bush is our enemy, but that step (assassination) is not among the protest actions that we are eyeing."

Presidential Security Group commander Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit said the 1,300-strong elite PSG will be at the core of the close-in security cordon for both presidents. This core security group will be augmented by 3,000 personel from the military’s anti-terrorist Task Force Libra and the uniformed police officers under task Force Dubya.

"With the preparations since July, we are confident that the PSG can successfully accomplish its mission to protect the two presidents," Bangit said. The PSG has undergone extensive drills with the US Secret Service and received new security equipment for use during the Bush visit.

US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone downplayed all security concerns over the Bush visit. "(Bush) does not only feel safe, but warmly, warmly welcome. I’m sure the President would experience what we Americans who have visited your country always experience: Warmth and care, the smiles and fun of Filipinos," he said.

Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. will be part the official welcome party, despite his earlier stand against the extension of the RP-US bases treaty in 1992 and his vocal objections to the Visiting Forces Agreement between the US and the Philippines.

Cathay Pacific Airways issued an advisory canceling flights due to the fact that NAIA will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to noon today to make way for Bush’s arrival.

Keep Rallies Out Of Bush’s Sight

"As of now, we have nothing to fear," Ebdane told reporters yesterday at a briefing on the Bush visit at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Ebdane said the protesters will not be allowed near Bush or his delegation. "We have established limiting points and we will not allow them (protesters) to go further than that," he said.

"The best situation is that (the protesters) will not be seen by him (Bush)," Ebdane added.

Velasco said the protesters may "stage their demonstrations at the freedom parks, except Rizal Park. They can make use of Quezon Memorial Circle for as long as they are peaceful."

Ebdane admitted that the PNP cannot immediately stop demonstrators from burning US flags during their protests. "That happened before and we will have the respective commanders on the ground make their own assessment and make decisions on the ground... (flag -burning at protests) is common worldwide," he said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. has asked militant groups to respect the US flag and not push through with their plans to burn 100 American flags to mark the Bush visit, especially since this is the first time Bush is making a state visit to Manila.

Velasco said riot police will block militant groups from Morayta street in Sampaloc, Manila and the Welcome Rotunda on the Manila-Quezon City border to keep them from marching to Malacañang.

The same blockade will bar protesters from marching down Roxas Boulevard, where the US Embassy is located.

Transport Secretary Leandro Mendoza has put all ports of entry — be they land-based, seaports or airports — on "full red alert" after receiving reports that terrorist groups are out to humiliate the President during the Bush visit.

"I have placed all... land, sea and airports (on) full red alert following reports that terrorist attacks may be in the offing," Mendoza said, citing an intelligence report that said a terrorist group is planning to bomb key ports in Metro Manila and Mindanao.

He has also advised the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) elevated railways to beef up their security and coordinate with the PNP for possible deployment of personnel.

"I urge the public to be careful with their activities today amid the threats of terrorist activities by certain groups," which he did not name.

Ebdane said protesters can expect a calibrated response from anti-riot police. "The police (are) there to safeguard the community and defend the government against hostile actions. The actions of the police would be as the need arises," he said.

"This is what we call (a) graduated or calibrated response," he said. "if (the protesters) would use guns, we can fire on them. But, if it is just a (regular) demonstration, our policemen have shields."

Lina echoed Ebdane’s warning, adding that those planning the protests should use the designated freedom parks and not attempt to cross police lines. "We cannot allow chaos and anarchy to reign (at) any time. The police (are) there to protect the citizenry and we will do everything possible to enforce the law."

No Rubber Bullets

Ebdane said he did not authorize the use of rubber bullets in dealing with protesters, though the police has a supply of these anti-riot paraphernalia. "We have rubber bullets, but we do not intend to use them," hd said.

He said the PNP will augment the close-in security provided for Bush by the US Secret Service and the PSG.

Velasco said the PNP will enforce the law that prohibits protest actions without rally permits. "If they violate the law, we will arrest them." He said protesters "know that, under the law, no permit, no rally. We will not allow them to violate the law."

To make doubly sure that Bush is secure, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) mobilized all its available sea, air and land assets.

AFP public information office chief Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero said the tri-dimensional security approach aims to prevent any untoward incidents.

In the legislature, the welcome is mixed. Speaker Jose de Venecia said he is looking forward to the Bush visit.

"We have attached enormous importance to this event in our continuing flight to root out Islamic terrorism and its causes without alienating millions of ordinary Muslims," De Venecia said.

He also urged Bush and the President to take the lead in bringing about a global Christian-Muslim partnership and cooperation.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos said in a statement that she prays Bush "will cease his attacks on smaller and weaker nations. I also pray for (Mrs. Arroyo’s) change of heart, that she may stop supporting the violent and wrongful policies of President Bush."

Marcos said she will not partake of the barrio fiesta cocktails that will be part of Bush’s visit, but will instead take only water.

Leftist congressmen led by Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza and Crispin Beltran said they will be present at the Batasan plenary hall to distribute peace ribbons to their colleagues and urge them to join the protests outside the Batasan complex.

House deputy secretary general Artemio Daza said House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla will not be in the chamber to listen to Bush’s address. - With Jaime Laude, Marichu Villanueva, Paolo Romero, Ranier Allan Ronda, AFP