Elite forces step up security

The elite Presidential Security Group and Philippine National Police (PNP) forces stepped up security measures in Malaca-nang, the presidential palace, for the expected militant labour group mobilisations and loyalist demonstrations of jailed ex-president Joseph Estrada on May 1.

There is also a growing rumour about the alliance of the Estrada camp and the new "Freedom Force," said to be for the establishment of a junta to replace President Gloria Arroyo.

"We want to stop them right then and there," said a palace official when asked about the tight security and its cause.

Additional personnel from the National Capital Region Police Office and anti-riot police from the Western Police District also formed a blockade in all passageways leading to the Palace.

At the same time, Arroyo appealed to the members of the PMAP to maintain peace and order during their planned demonstrations on Labour Day.

National Security Council head Roilo Golez has started to get support from all the groups that have emerged, which are pro and anti-Arroyo.

Supporters of Estrada accused members of the Freedom Force of using them and their scheduled May 1 rally, as an opportunity to oust Arroyo and take-over the government themselves.

"This group is using our group in their plan to get rid of Arroyo, and to cover up its disapproval of the government they had set up at the expense of Estrada," said Arnold Obina, spokesman of Estrada's People's Movement Against Poverty (PMAP).

"Unless they apologise to us for what they did in Edsa 2 (which paved the way for Estrada's ouster in January 2002), we will not talk to them. They should admit that they were wrong and they have failed," said Obina.

On the other hand, Congressman Crispin Beltran also charged that the 'Freedom Force' group has been talking with opposition groups, to get the supporters of Estrada.

Beltran admitted in a radio interview that he got "second hand information" that the Council of Philippine Affairs (COPA), the critical People's Council Assembly (PCA), and the pro-Estrada's PMAP have held clandestine meetings.

Despite its open criticism against Arroyo's pro-US stance, Beltran said Bayan will stand by with government and will prevent efforts overthrow Arroyo. Bayan used to support Arroyo in the ouster of Estrada.

Other militant groups Sanlakas and Alliance of Filipino Masses also assured that they would not support any call to oust the Arroyo government even as they said they would continue to call for reforms in government.

Freedom Force, including COPA, have been criticised for trying to set up a military junta that is supposed to depose Arroyo, and take over the government.

COPA is the largest aggregate of military and civilian leadership sector in the Freedom Force group. Obina reiterated that their own celebration for the May 1 anniversary would push through despite the arrest of PMAP leader Ronald Lumbao.

"His arrest (for rebellion) is a badge of honour since the people should all rise against the government which is against the poor," Obina said. Thousands of Estrada followers launched a failed siege of the presidential palace on May 1, 2001, in protest of Estrada's arrest for plunder in April 2001.

Many groups which are pro or against Arroyo, are all holding rallies on May 1, the reason why the military and the police will be on red alert on that day.

Arroyo's security Adviser Golez said that COPA gave an assurance that it would not support any destabilisation plots and would continue to support Arroyo. He has been going around Metro manila seeking support from the leftist and centrist groups.

Senate minority floor leader Aquilino Pimentel reiterated that Philippine National Police should look into one of its officers identified in media reports as among the proponents of Freedom Force.