PNP goes on alert for ’86 EDSA rites

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. placed yesterday the police force in Metro Manila under heightened alert amid plans by militant groups to disrupt celebrations marking the 18th anniversary of the first EDSA people power revolt today.

Ebdane announced that the 17,000-strong National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) under the command of Director Ricardo de Leon will be augmented by the military’s National Capital Region Command based at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) general headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

National police spokesman Senior Superintendent Joel Goltiao said Ebdane has tasked De Leon to head Task Force EDSA 1 which will oversee the security preparations around Metro Manila during today’s celebration.

Goltiao said anti-riot policemen will also be deployed at the EDSA Shrine and People Power Monument in Mandaluyong City.

The Western Police District (WPD) in Manila is tasked to secure areas surrounding Malacañang Palace.

WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said a considerable number of anti-riot policemen have been deployed on streets leading to Malacañang.

Another group of policemen from the Eastern Police District (EPD) will help control the flow of vehicular traffic along EDSA going to the shrine.

Goltiao said anti-riot policemen have been ordered to employ "maximum tolerance" against the rallyists. A 200-man team from the police Civil Disturbance Unit will also be on standby.

Goltiao cited intelligence reports pointing out groups affiliated with the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will hold simultaneous protest actions.

Police have warned protesters against disrupting the celebrations, particularly the religious activities at EDSA Shrine.

"The Shrine is off limits for conducting rallies. It should be a place for worship, not for rallies," Goltiao said.

De Leon said the NCRPO will implement the "no permit, no rally" policy.

"We are preparing for a worst-case scenario," De Leon said.

He said they have yet to receive intelligence reports of terror groups infiltrating the ranks of protesters.

Rallyists are only allowed to stage mass actions at the People Power monument near Camp Aguinaldo, particularly along the road going to White Plains, not along EDSA.

"If they can do it last week, there’s no reason for them not to police their own ranks," De Leon said, referring to the

mass actions staged by supporters of presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. during the oral arguments in the Supreme Court last week.

The event will mark the 18th anniversary of first people power revolt which led to the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986.

The place was also chosen for its historic significance by militant and civil society groups to highlight their protest actions for the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada in January 2001.

Even as the key players of EDSA I went separate ways, Ebdane said there is still reason to celebrate the event since it marked the end of the 20-year dictatorship.

"For me, there is a good reason to celebrate because we have made it possible to make changes in the government, and stop the dictatorship. We do not want a return to dictatorship," Ebdane said. — Nestor Etolle, Non Alquitran