It’s back to normal for AFP, PNP

It was the usual slow Sunday in Metro Manila, and the only action law enforcers got amid fears of a power grab was to clean up the city streets.

The security situation in the capital is back to normal, the military and police declared yesterday.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said destabilization rumors have died down, thus it has pulled out its troops from key areas in Metro Manila.

Rallyists from left-leaning groups and supporters of deposed President Joseph Estrada were a no-show for their anticipated protest action demanding President Arroyo’s resignation, which was to coincide with the country’s 107th Independence Day celebration, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Vidal Querol.

Because of this, Querol told The STAR that he has deactivated Task Force Manila Shield.

Despite the military’s move, National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Lt. Gen. Alan Cabalquinto said soldiers stationed in the metropolis are still under a red alert status.

Cabalquinto has already recommended the lowering of the alert level to blue, but AFP chief Gen. Efren Abu has yet to approve this.

"Since it is generally peaceful, we recommended to the chief of staff the downgrading of alert from red to blue," NCRCom spokesman Capt. Ramon Zagala said.

Zagala said that coup rumors in the past days have started to abate.

Troops deployed in the Manila North Cemetery, Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park and Intramuros in Manila were withdrawn yesterday afternoon.

A company of soldiers from the Philippine Air Force Combat Group were deployed to Rizal Park, a platoon each in Intramuros and the Manila North Cemetery on Thursday to prevent rallyists from converging in these areas.

"Tahimik na (It’s all quiet now)," Zagala said.

At least 6,000 police and military personnel were initially mustered to ensure security, Querol said.

Protesters, however, did not show up for their projected rally at the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard and at the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola), near Malacañang.

Querol said he deployed at least 200 anti-riot policemen at the US Embassy, 500 on Mendiola, 300 at the University Belt in Sampaloc, Manila and 200 at the Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City.

But as of 3 p.m., Querol said NCRPO intelligence did not monitor a single group in these areas, prompting him to order his men instead to do a cleanup of their respective areas.

"My men spent their time cleaning the streets of trash and garbage," said Querol.

Deserted as well was the San Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe, Makati City where the whistle-blower in the audio tape scandal has sought sanctuary.

Querol has ordered the deployment of anti-riot policemen at the seminary after some 200 Estrada followers initially showed up to express their support to former National Bureau of Investigation official Sammy Ong, who earlier exposed an alleged taped conversation involving the President supposedly talking about election misdeeds.

They eventually left. Only reporters waiting for a good story and anti-riot policemen were left wandering about in the area.

However, military troops deployed to secure the airport complex in Pasay City, key private and public establishments, were under instruction to stay put in their areas, Zagala said.

Airport Security chief retired Brig. Gen. Atutubo requested the other night the National Capital Region Command to deploy troops in the airport complex due to monitored threats, he said.

Platoons of marines deployed in the entry points of Manila — the North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway and the Coastal Road, according to Zagala will remain posted in these areas until everything has returned to normal.

On Wednesday night, the AFP raised the red alert status in Metro Manila amid reports of impending massive protest actions to be followed by an armed action in order to oust Mrs. Arroyo from power.

Other reports claimed that the brains behind the supposed coup plot were out to capitalize on the wiretapping issue and the jueteng scandal, both involving the First Family.

This forced the AFP to reinforce its troops in Metro Manila by calling in forces from Northern and Southern Luzon.

The NCRPO’s Task Force Manila Shield, on the other hand, was put up by Querol to secure the city’s key areas. It is composed of anti-riot policemen of the NCRPO and the combat faction of the military.

The NCRPO intelligence said left-leaning groups such as the Anakpawis, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Bayan and Estrada’s supporters from the People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAP) were scheduled to hold a rally to demand the President to step down.

The NCRPO expected some 5,000 rallyists to gather for their march towards the Palace and US Embassy, the same number that showed up during the National Day of Mourning at Liwasang Bonifacio last Saturday.

They never came.

Querol said the President personally congratulated him for a "job well done" at the height of the Independence Day celebration at the Luneta Park, which was held with less fanfare.

The President led the holding of a flag-raising ceremony at the Luneta at 8 a.m. which was attended by Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes and other cabinet officials, the AFP chief, Army Chief Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga, Navy flag-officer-in-command Adm. Ernesto de Leon, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Jose Reyes and PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao.

Thirty minutes later, a civic-military parade highlighted by a "show of force" by the Special Operations Command of the AFP commenced.

With Task Force Manila Shield already deactivated, Querol is confident that local policemen can deal with the rallyists should they decide to surface anew.

"If there is a rally today, the NCRPO can deal with the problem at the local level," he said.