May Day power grab unlikely

Manila: The Armed Forces of the Philippines has said the situation in Manila remains normal with no indications of destabilising the Arroyo Administration ahead of Labour Day celebrations.

"We don't see anything yet but it is too early to say so we are increasing our intelligence gathering efforts just to make sure that May 1 will pass with the least disturbance, with the least violence if we cannot prevent it at all," said Major General and AFP spokesman Jose Angel Honrado in an interview with the Malaya daily newspaper.

However, Colonel Tristan Kison, public information chief of AFP, warned that some groups might capitalise on the situation and launch anti-government activities.

"It's possible that some may plant bombs and that is what we are trying to prevent," he said.

Kison said the AFP is ready to handle the situation once it gets out of control. "We believe that their [power grabbers'] military component has died down but we are not going to be remiss in our responsibilities. We are not going to bring our guard down," he said.

The National Capital Region Command has conducted rehearsals for May 1 and will deploy about 100 members of the Civil Disturbance Management unit at the EDSA Shrine.

At 6am, the AFP went on nationwide blue alert, followed by the National Police which placed its forces across the country on heightened alert at 8am.

The AFP has upgraded its alert status. "This is due to the prevailing security situation," said Lieutenant Commander Earl Evan Pabalan, Armed Forces deputy information chief.

Pabalan said intelligence officials have yet to determine if the blue alert would be upgraded to red.

For his part, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr said: "The PNP has raised heightened alert nationwide in preparation for the May 1 rallies." Pagdilao said the PNP's alert will be upgraded today.

Officials played down threats of bomb attacks and another coup attempt saying the alert was raised as a precautionary measure.

"There is no threat. The situation is normal," Metropolitan police chief Director Vidal Querol said.

With additional reporting by Raffy Jimenez