MPD on alert for Gringo allies

The Manila Police District (MPD) has been placed on heightened alert following unconfirmed intelligence reports that followers of former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan will stage a coup anytime this month, this time backed up by the civilian population.

Civilian support will allegedly come from militant groups which will stage rallies in different parts of the city and will give support to renegade military soldiers when the coup is launched, according to intelligence sources.

Last Thursday, MPD acting director Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa personally assessed the rally launched by some 300 members of militant muti-sectoral groups at Liwasang Bonifacio and gave instructions to police not to allow the demonstrators to march to Mendiola, the road leading to Malacañang.

"The police will always observe maximum tolerance as long as the rallyists kept their protests within the designated freedom parks (where rallies may be held without permits). But protest rallies outside of the designated areas will always be dispersed," Abarzosa said.

He also deployed additional officers to block rallyists who insist on marching to Mendiola.

The heightened alert was raised on the eve of President Arroyo’s departure for Vietnam to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Honasan was arrested in Quezon City last Wednesday by police and military forces while trying to escape from a residential house in the posh subdivision.

Honasan is believed to still have loyal followers in the police and miltary. Sources said his loyalists is planning a coup and will get support from civilians with the help of militant organizations.

In February, renegade soldiers of the Magdalo group had reportedly forged an alliance with communist rebels in an attempt to bring down the Arroyo administration.

Renegade Army 1Lt. Lawrence San Juan directly linked Honasan to the foiled Feb. 24 coup attempt as one of the main planners of the destabilization plot.

San Juan was arrested in Batangas after allegedly meeting with ranking members of the communist front.

Sources said this is the main reason why intelligence personnel are constantly monitoring the activities of the left-leaning organizations whom the alleged coup plotters might tap as their civilian back up.

However, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno has announced that members of the police and military have proven their loyalty to the government and would no longer be swayed into joining Honasan.