Today is the judgement day of Erap plunder case.Erap found guilty.....
The police and
military were placed on high alert
ahead of the Sandiganbayan verdict on the
plunder case of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.
The Philippine National Police has placed its forces nationwide on full alert since noon Tuesday, while the Armed Forces (AFP) had been on red alert since Monday evening.
The full alert is a security precaution, said Director General Avelino Razon Jr., the PNP deputy chief for administration.
He said police are monitoring Estrada’s supporters, who are organizing rallies today. Razon added that permits have been secured for protests in Pasay, Makati and Quezon City.
He said he didn’t know how many people will show up at the rallies, and he made a public appeal for sobriety among those who will attend.
“There’s no reason to be paranoid regardless of the verdict of one person,” Razon said. “We call on them to police their
ranks. We should remain calm and accept the judicial process.”
Razon said the police are also guarding against the possibility of communist rebels slipping into the rallies and causing trouble. But he added, “So far there are no reports of New People’s Army infiltration.”
About 6,000 policemen and reserve forces were to be deployed in critical areas in Metro Manila today, Razon said, adding that the National Police is coordinating with the military.
Military chief of staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, said “augmentation forces” were assembled in military bases in Metro Manila and would quickly respond to help police control Estrada supporters if they launch street protests today.
“Our mission here is to be in a support role to the Philippine National Police who will be deploying in areas where there will be expected demonstrations,” Esperon said.
He said pro-Estrada forces may become unruly if Estrada is found guilty on charges of plunder.
“We are on alert so that we can uphold and enforce the decision of our courts,” Esperon said.
This morning, Razon said, police will take Estrada to the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City from his rest house in Tanay, Rizal, where he has been detained. They will travel by land in a police motorcade, with helicopters providing air cover.
Estrada was ousted in a popular uprising in 2001 owing to a corruption scandal and is accused of stealing more than $80 million, mainly through tax kickbacks and payoffs from illegal gambling barons.
Despite his downfall, Estrada remains popular among the country’s poor who have often staged huge rallies on his behalf.