RP on alert as Arroyo leaves for China

RP on alert as Arroyo leaves for China

Reuters, Manila

The Philippine military and police went on alert in a regular precautionary exercise as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo left for an official visit to China on Sunday, officials said.

Arroyo's four-day visit to Hong Kong and Beijing follows coup rumors around the metropolis last week and ahead of ousted president Joseph Estrada's perjury trial on Monday where supporters for and against the former president are expected to gather in front of the anti-graft court.

"The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the armed forces are on blue alert," said Gen. Thompson Lantion, PNP director for police community relations.

"Blue alert" means 50 percent of the country's police and military forces are put on stand-by, while "red alert" means all personnel are put on watch.

"It's part of regular procedure each time the president leaves the country...there's no cause for public alarm. The blue alert level has nothing to do with coup rumors."

Destabilization rumors have continued to make the rounds since Arroyo was catapulted to power in January after a people power revolt booted Estrada from office.

The administration has been battling for days to silence talk in local newspapers that a coup plot called "Black October" was brewing in elements of the national police.

Police and military spokesmen have repeatedly affirmed their loyalty to Arroyo in recent days.

"The alert status of the military and PNP is exactly the same as that implemented during the previous trips abroad of the President," National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said in a statement, adding that no specific threats have been noted.

Arroyo, in her departure speech, said she and Chinese President Jiang Zemin were scheduled to witness signing of "landmark" bilateral agreements on the fight against transnational crimes, on combating the illicit trade in narcotics and on the extradition of fugitives.

She also said they would discuss the disputed South China Sea archipelago Spratly Islands which both countries lay claim as well as agricultural cooperation, and trade and investment.

In Hong Kong, Arroyo said she would make a "personal appeal" to the Filipinos working in the territory to maximize their remittances to their home country to help sustain the economy.

Rumors of the alleged coup plot pulled the peso down past 52 to the dollar for the first time since Aug. 13 on Thursday, but Arroyo stuck to her target of reaching 50 pesos by the year end.

PNP's Lantion said the police were also preparing to beef up security around anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Monday for Estrada's expected court appearance.

The ousted leader is on trial for a string of charges including economic plunder, illegal use of an alias, perjury and graft during his 31-month reign.

"There will be a tightened security in tomorrow's arraignment of former president Estrada. Around 2,000 policemen would be assigned to security," he said.

The PNP would be waiting for an order from Sandiganbayan to fetch the former movie actor from a nearby military hospital. Estrada has been in police custody since April and is currently undergoing treatment for a lung ailment.

Estrada told local radio on Sunday said that he was "sad but hopeful" ahead of his perjury trial on Monday.

"What they are doing to me hurts, but I'm sure that I will be vindicated in the end," Estrada said in an interview with dzBB.

Last week, Estrada informed the anti-graft court that he was waiving his right to be present at the perjury trial. He made a similar appeal at his plunder trial on Oct. 1, but did not resist police who had come to fetch him.