AFP to keep red alert status despite peaceful protests

The Armed Forces will keep its red alert status despite protest marches being peaceful during Wednesday’s promulgation of the verdict in former President Joseph Estrada's plunder and perjury case. “Ideally, we look at the threat situation, if the threat is still there. We will be conducting a situation analysis. Maybe by tomorrow (Thursday), we can do that (analysis)," said Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro, AFP public information chief. Bacarro said the military will downgrade its alert status only after conducting a “situation analysis." The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday found Estrada guilty of plunder and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua, or imprisonment for 20 to 40 years. The antigraft court acquitted Estrada of perjury. A crowd about 500 Estrada supporters peacefully gathered near the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City. Bacarro added that downgrading the military’s alert status was also dependent on the needs of the Philippine National Police, which is the primary agency tasked to ensure peace and order during the promulgation of the verdict. “They (PNP) have the lead role and we are in the support role, so we will take the cue from the Philippine National Police," the AFP public information chief said. The PNP has also said it is retaining its full alert status. The military declared a red alert status on September 10 against possible violent protests. Earlier, the military’s National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) said it was on guard against a possible repeat of the so-called siege of Malacañang on May 1, 2001 when thousands of Estrada supporters clashed with security forces near the presidential palace. The marchers then, mostly urban poor, protested Estrada's arrest in April 2001 over the plunder and perjury charges slapped against him. Estrada, a former actor popularly known as Erap, was elected President in 1998 but his six-year term was cut short in January 2001 when he was ousted in the "EDSA Dos" bloodless uprising. -GMANews.TV