Moves under way to 'terminate' Makati commotion - Esperon

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon on Thursday assuaged fears of an escalation of tension in Makati City following Sen. Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim's walkout, saying ground commanders are now moving to address the situation. In an interview on QTV's Balitanghali, Esperon said authorities remain on top the situation, saying they are now undertaking steps to resolve the crisis and "terminate the commotion" as soon as possible. In the same breath, Esperon called for sobriety. "Nanawagan ako sa ating mga kababayan. Please stay calm, we can address the situation and intend to terminate this commotion as soon as possible," Esperon said. "Sa ating mga tropa, mayroon na silang instructions. I'm in touch with senior commanders, meron na silang ginagawa sa lugar nila. We are intact and we are ready to perform legal mission given to us but first we have to address the situation in Makati," Esperon said. In the interview, Esperon said he has already spoken with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regarding the incident, although he declined to disclose the instructions given him by the President. "We have talked. I cannot tell you what we discussed but she (President Arroyo) is very aware of the situation," Esperon said. The military top brass also clarified that the armed soldiers securing Trillanes and Lim have not joined the group, saying these men are part of the security detail assigned by the military to guard the officers. He noted that these security escorts are uniformed and armed. Esperon said there was an effort to prevent confrontations between the security escorts and the detained military officers, that is why the officers were allowed to walk out of the courtroom and march to a nearby hotel. "The uniformed men beside Trillanes are not joining them (in their cause). They are part of the security. They are uniformed and armed. I told the commanders to resolve it immediately," Esperon said. "I cannot tell you what happened in the ground. but i think there was a genral eforrt to make it non confrontational at the start," he added. Esperon also said he is in close coordination with National Police chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon in addressing the situation in Makati. The QTV report said Esperon has alerted military units in the wake of the incident and quoted Esperon as saying that military troops are all accounted for. When asked if he thought that Trillanes and Lim's actions were planned, Esperon said: "Maaaring ganon but I have not monitored that. Wala pang report na ganon sa amin." - GMANews.TV