Security plans for Aquino inaugural not yet final – PNP

(Update - 2:23 a.m. June 28) Security measures are in place for the inauguration of President-elect Benigno Aquino III next Wednesday, but the actual security plan remains fluid until ground reports from a "dry run" have been evaluated by authorities, the National Capital Region Police Office said Sunday. Nearly 17,000 officers and men of the Philippine National Police will be deployed for the events this Wednesday, including 5,000 from the NCRPO, 10,500 from Regions 3 and 4A, and two battalions on standby NCRPO Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales told GMANews.TV that no plans have been made final regarding security for the inauguration as of Sunday. "This is what we will be discussing during tomorrow’s dry run," he said in Pilipino, adding that the plans would be adjusted and made final based on the tomorrow’s reports from officers on the field, Rosales said. The report would be based on the experience of police officers who would be deployed as part of the "dry run" this Monday, he added. In an interview on dzBB, Supt. Rommel Miranda, spokesman of the NCRPO, said some 5,000 police officers would be deployed for June 30 to secure the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, where the presidential inauguration would take place, as well as manage the traffic along Aquino’s routes. The NCRPO is the branch of the Philippine National Police in charge of securing peace and order in Metro Manila, the capital region. Rosales also said that there were no apparent threats to security. "We haven't received any intelligence of regarding threats whatsoever." Wednesday, June 30, 2010 would begin with Aquino leaving his house on Times Street in Quezon City to fetch outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from Malacañang. Symbolic traditions The tradition symbolizes the transition of power, from an outgoing president to an incoming one, dating back to the inauguration of President Manuel Roxas in 1946, the first formal transfer of power from an incumbent president, Sergio Osmeña, to a president-elect, Roxas, according to records released on Thursday by Aquino’s inaugural committee to the media. Roxas and Osmeña were rivals in the presidential race that year. Roxas is the grandfather of Manuel Roxas II, Aquino’s running mate in the May 2010 election, who lost to Makati Mayor and Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay. Mrs. Arroyo and will arrive at the Quirino Grandstand before noon. Aquino will be the seventh president to be inaugurated at the Quirino Grandstand, after Presidents Elpidio Quirino (1949), Ramon Magsaysay (1953), Carlos Garcia (1957), Diosdado Macapagal (1961) the father of Arroyo, Ferdinand Marcos (1965), and Fidel Ramos (1992). The honor guards will honor Mrs. Arroyo with a 21-gun salute, and present arms, four ruffles (drumrolls), and flourishes (trumpet blasts), the last time the Armed Forces will render her honors as head of state. In response, Mrs. Arroyo will troop the line, receive the salute of the honor guards, and bid farewell the major service commanders. This would be happening about nine years and five months after she was catapulted to power in January 2001 in the aftermath of People Power-2, or EDSA Dos, which ousted then President Joseph Estrada who was accused and found guilty of plundering the national coffers. The police said it would be hard to make a head count before June 30 on how many people would actually flock to Rizal Park for the event. Head count "In terms of head count, we don't have a good basis for an estimate of those who would be going to the inauguration and at the victory party," Miranda said. Apart from the 5,000 police officers, he said about 10,500 officers from Regions 3 and 4a would be deployed as anti-criminal officers to guard the peace and order, Miranda added After his inauguration at 12 noon, President Aquino will leave for Malacañang to take possession of the Place as the seat of power, his residence, and office in a ritual known as "the climbing of the stairs," a tradition started by President Manuel L. Quezon in 1935 "The climbing of the stairs signifies that the chief executive is the freely-elected head of the Filipino people, who is pledged to govern them with justice in contrast to the colonial governors who formerly inhabited the Palace," according to records given by the inauguration committee. Aquino will then have a working Lunch in Kalayaan Hall, after which he will induct into office the Cabinet secretaries and other officials at the Rizal Hall. He will then hold his first Cabinet meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room. In the evening, the President will host an inaugural reception for foreign and other dignitaries wishing to make a call on the new leader of the Philippines, but minus the vin d'honneur that was prominently held by the Marcos administration. "There will also be no Inaugural Ball – the last Inaugural Ball was for the 1981 Marcos inaugural, which was also the last time the Rigodon de Honor was danced in the Palace until June 12, 2009, when it was again danced on June 12 of that year," according to records of the inaugural committee. Instead, Aquino will offer a toast as a gesture of amity to the nations that maintain diplomatic relations with the Philippines. Inaugural concert An inaugural concert will take place at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City, following the tradition of public concerts started by the Quirino administration. Reports have it that Aquino will do a song and dance number to celebrate his victory. At midnight in the transition to Monday, police forces would be placed on heightened alert as ordered by Regional Director Roberto Rosales. Despite the absence of specific threats from militant and radical groups, Miranda said that two battalions of police would be placed on standby by the NCRPO command. "At this point they are not part of the actual deployments, but as forces on standby," Miranda said. At 6 a.m., June 28, police officers will comb through the parking lot of Nayong Pilipino in Pasay City, adjacent to the airports where the foreign dignitaries and heads of state will be arriving for Aquino's inauguration. The police will then proceed to the Quirino Grandstand for security checks before heading to the Manila Hotel for a final conference on security and planning coordination at 10 a.m. No protest actions on June 30 As this developed, militant groups have not scheduled any protest action on Inauguration Day itself, but public mobilizations are slated for Tuesday, June 29. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said the series of actions is aimed at giving outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a “rousing sendoff." The group will unveil a giant mural of Arroyo in Mendiola on Tuesday, and a giant clock in Timog Avenue to signify the countdown of Arroyo’s last hours in office. A “festive" noise barrage and street performances will likewise be held at the Welcome Rotonda on Tuesday night. “People are undoubtedly happy that her nine-year reign of terror and corruption will finally come to an end. With the end of her term comes the start of the process of making her and her officials accountable for their actions. We expect nothing less from the incoming administration," said Reyes. - With Jerrie M. Abella/VS, GMANews.TV