Palace, US embassy guarded

Police have tightened security around Malacañang and the US embassy in Manila as they expect labor and militant groups to hold protest rallies to mark Labor Day today.

Security has also been beefed up in other areas in Metro Manila where protesters traditionally hold Labor Day rallies such as the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City and Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, Metro Manila Police Office director, placed all units in the metropolis on high alert and deployed an additional 800 officers, all rookies, to back anti-riot forces.

He also ordered Metro Manila police district commanders to raise police visibility in their respective jurisdictions. About 14,000 police officers will be deployed to secure the capital.

The southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard in front of the US Embassy was closed to traffic. Trucks, vans and other heavy vehicles have been banned from taking Roxas Boulevard since last year to thwart possible terrorist truck bomb attacks.

Officials earlier warned of possible "sympathy attacks" by Islamic militants and rebel groups in retaliation for the US-led invasion of Iraq, prompting police and military units across the country to go on alert.

President Arroyo, Washington’s most vocal ally in Asia, ran into domestic opposition for supporting the US invasion. She is scheduled to go on a state visit to the United States later this month.

All approaches to Malacañang have been placed under tight watch, with police and troops of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) conducting patrols.

"Our personnel will not allow (protesters) to get near the premises," said Chief Inspector Gerry Agunod, Western Police District spokesman.

Barbed wire was strung across the Don Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge, which guards the main road that leads to the presidential palace. The PSG also put a forklift on standby, ready to block the road with several container vans in the event of a siege.

Dozens of PSG troops are camped on key roads leading to the palace.

On May 1, 2001, thousands of protesters loyal to deposed President Joseph Estrada stormed the gates of the palace in an attempt to reinstall him. Four protesters were killed in clashes with police and troops.

Estrada was ousted in January that year by a military-backed popular uprising following corruption allegations. He was replaced by then Vice President Arroyo and is currently on trial.

Meanwhile, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), yesterday called on rally organizers to police their own ranks following intelligence reports of plans by communist rebels to sabotage the Labor Day celebrations.

Police held talks with various protest groups yesterday to get their assurances that they would keep their rallies peaceful.

"Police your own ranks and guard against infiltrators and saboteurs out to take advantage of the situation," Ebdane said in an interview.

"Based on past experience, some forces have used these rallies as a cover to promote their dubious agenda. In some instances, these infiltrators resort to violent actions to achieve their selfish objectives."

Chief Superintendent Enrique Galang Jr., PNP director for operations, said a force of elite police commandos, backed by light armored vehicles, as well as police units from nearby provinces are ready to provide reinforcements.

Police checkpoints have been set up along the North and South Luzon Expressways, the two main roads to Metro Manila, to discourage any communist rebel movements.

Ebdane said the New People’s Army (NPA) has vowed to avenge the deaths of two human rights activists killed recently in Mindoro Oriental.

"All counter-measures to address any possible security situation are in place. We are confident that Labor Day will be celebrated in an orderly, peaceful and meaningful way," Galang said.

The estimated 9,000-member NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been fighting a guerrilla war since 1969. Last year, the CPP and the NPA were declared terrorist groups by the United States and the European Union. The CPP protested the terrorist tag, saying it was a legitimate revolutionary movement decriminalized after the 1986 ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. — With Jaime Laude