Estrada laughs off PNP crisis plan

Fending off persistent rumors that he will declare a state of emergency, President Estrada yesterday denied that he had signed an executive order imposing a police crackdown.

"This is the first time I’ve heard of it," Mr. Estrada told reporters.

Maverick congressman Rep. Joker Arroyo (LAMP, Makati) claimed the other day that the presidential order was drafted by Director General Panfilo Lacson, chief of the Philippine National Police and an Estrada protegé.

Arroyo said the order was part of a PNP "crisis plan" designed to quash an anticipated massive anti-administration rallies in protest over the jueteng scandal.

"There is no such thing as the crisis plan. General Lacson never mentioned about any plan and he has no idea for recommending such to Malacañang," said Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, PNP spokesman.

Lacson was not immediately available for comment yesterday.

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora and National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre were quick to deny Arroyo’s claim.

"I personally will have to know about it because we are the ones preparing such kind of directives," Zamora said. "It will have to go through us, and, absolutely, we have not even talked about anything like that."

Rumors have been rife that the President will declare a state of emergency or martial law to quell the snowballing clamor for Mr. Estrada’s resignation over allegations that he received kickbacks from jueteng operators.

Despite an earlier denial from Mr. Estrada, the rumors refused to go away.

Security has been tightened at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, the Armed Forces headquarters, fueling the rumors. Visitors were frisked by military police, and more heavily armed sentries were posted at the gates.

To prevent the political crisis from dividing the military, Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes has barred commanders from issuing public statements critical of the government.

Last week, crack, battle-ready policemen sealed off Camp Crame, the PNP’s headquarters sitting across Camp Aguinaldo. Dismissing rumors of a coup or martial law, the PNP said the surprise exercise – designed to defend the camp against an attack – was routine.

Aguirre said as long as the anti-Estrada demonstrations remain peaceful and within the bounds of the law, there would be no problem.

He said the government has vowed to "allow the freedoms of the people to bloom" and the "constitutional processes be respected and upheld."

"If massive violent demonstrations will occur and physically occupying Malacañang Palace grounds for the purpose of preventing the President from performing his official functions with the end in view of compelling the President or coercing him to resign, that is illegal," Aguirre said. – Christina Mendez, Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero