Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. cautioned participants in tomorrow’s “Trillion Peso March” against corruption that anyone pushing for a military-backed “reset” of the government faces arrest, even as state security forces prepare to quell any civil unrest that may arise during the event.
In an ambush interview yesterday, Teodoro said such calls are “totally illegal” and would be considered inciting to sedition.
“What you cannot do directly, you cannot do indirectly in the law. So when you say withdrawal of support, it’s an indirect way of saying, ‘I’ll take over,’ which is illegal,” the defense chief said.
“Pwede, sa tingin ko ha… Pwedeng hulihin (The way I see it, they can be arrested). I mean, it’s illegal. It’s an indirect way, it’s an artful way [of calling for an overthrow of the government],” he added.
Recently, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he received, and ignored, offers from some retired military personnel to join a “civil-military junta” aiming to remove Marcos and Duterte from office.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) later maintained that there is no military junta in the offing and the organization rejects such notions.
“The AFP will never subscribe to any reset plot, and our Constitution has no cheat codes. So we will always go to the side of the Constitution, the constitutional processes that are in place,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said.
Meanwhile, permits to carry firearms outside of residence are suspended in Metro Manila from November 29 to December 1 in light of the scheduled protest action, Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said.
“Only members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other law enforcement agencies performing official duties and in agency-prescribed uniforms are allowed to carry firearms,” stated a one-page order signed by Nartatez.
The PNP chief also said the beefed-up security measures have been put in place to “ensure the safety of all, whether protesters or not.”
He disclosed that part of the PNP’s plan is to deploy its Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) trucks in key areas, where trouble is more likely to erupt.
In a text message to Manila Standard, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) spokesperson, Maj. Hazel Asilo confirmed the impending deployment of LRAD trucks across Metro Manila, but explained that they will be used mainly for communicating with police personnel.
“We will be using the LRAD to disseminate announcements to personnel deployed,” she said.
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Public Information Office chief, Maj. Jennifer Gannaban also confirmed the planned deployment of sonic devices at the People Power Monument and other key areas.
The LRAD is a specialized loudspeaker that can project high-power sound over great distances for communication and non-lethal crowd control.
These devices are used by military and law enforcement to broadcast warnings and instructions, but can also be used to disperse crowds, with potential effects ranging from headaches, nausea, and even permanent hearing loss if used at full power.
However, Nartatez said the expanded deployment, which forms part of the 15,000-strong police presence, aims to guarantee quick response capability against those attempting to “hijack the peaceful intent of the rally,” rather than to intimidate protesters.
“Let me be clear that law enforcement presence does not mean aggressive action. The order for maximum tolerance still remains,” he added.
As this developed, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) rolled out extensive traffic rerouting schemes and road closures in anticipation of the protest action.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the agency would implement traffic adjustments along EDSA to accommodate rally participants and motorists.
“Sa EDSA, we will try to manage ‘yung traffic i-a-adjust po natin ‘yung barrier sa EDSA para po dalawang lanes ‘yung isa sa bus lane, isa sa pribadong sasakyan (In EDSA, we will try to manage by adjusting the barriers, to accommodate two lanes… one for buses, the other for private vehicles),” Artes said.
“Nakiusap tayo sa organizers na wag na po mag-spill over sa EDSA ‘yun pong mga taong dadalo (We appeal to organizers not to let rally participants spill over to EDSA),” he added.
To accommodate the marchers, the MMDA will implement closures along Bonifacio Drive (both lanes from Anda Circle to P. Burgos Ave) and segments of Roxas Boulevard (Northbound and Southbound from Katigbak to Kalaw St.).
In EDSA Northbound, if closures occur near White Plains, vehicles may be rerouted to Guadix Drive or Shaw Boulevard via J. Vargas and Meralco Avenue, the MMDA said.
Still, motorists are advised that actual road openings and closures will depend on the real-time traffic situation on the ground.
