‘Business as usual’ in Metro

Two days after President Arroyo declared a state of emergency, it’s "business as usual" in Metro Manila, Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol said yesterday.

Querol called on Metro Manilans to remain calm and not to be alarmed by the declaration of the state of emergency and instead, continue their daily activities like going to shopping malls and watching movies.

"The state of emergency is not targeted at ordinary civilians and businessmen," he explained.

He said the targets of the President’s declaration were "groups of destabilizers, coup plotters and terrorists, including the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and its affiliated front organizations which have plotted to overthrow the government."

"All of these groups, individually and collectively, have formed an alliance whose motive is to bring down the government, the duly constituted authorities beyond what is provided for by the Constitution and the rule of law," he said.

To show that it’s really "business as usual" in Metro Manila, Querol watched the World Wrestling match at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City Saturday night .

He also visited yesterday the EDSA Shrine, the Robinson’s shopping center, the MRT and LRT and other private and government installations.

"We wanted to show our citizens that there is no cause for panic and that they can move around freely without fear," said Querol.

For the second day, Querol reported no sightings of rallyists in Metro Manila’s streets and other places like the EDSA Shrine, People Power Monument, Mendiola and Ayala Avenue.

"We will disperse them immediately and prevent them from marching in the streets," said the Metro police chief.

Querol canceled all permits granted to rally organizers, saying that the declaration of a state of emergency has a definite basis in law to ensure that lawlessness and anarchy would not govern the streets of Metro Manila.

"All major thoroughfares of Metro Manila should remain open to the smooth flow of commerce, trade, goods and services," he said.

As of yesterday, Querol maintained that their personnel were deployed to traditional rally sites in Metro Manila and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) remain on full alert.

After the declaration of the state of emergency, government forces started cracking down on perceived "enemies of the state," and took into custody Anak Pawis Rep. Crispin Beltran and former PC chief Ramon Montano.

When pressed whether he has a list of target personalities for the government’s crackdown, Querol said they are only supporting the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), which was tasked to do the job.

Meanwhile, the rally organizers of last Friday’s protest marches were monitored conducting meetings to determine what went wrong with their "show of force along EDSA and Ayala Avenue," according to NCRPO intelligence chief Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr.

"They are contemplating their next move which will be dealt with accordingly," Rojas told The Star..

The NCRPO chief said augmentation forces from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 have started arriving in Metro Manila to help protect the metropolis against threats by the "enemies of the state."

According to Rojas, his men are continuously monitoring not only the rally organizers but also the alleged coup leaders, whom he refused to identify.