PHILIPPINES: HEAVY SECURITY FOR ARROYO INAUGURATION; OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS CLASH WITH POLICE; ISLAMIC MILITANTS ARRESTED.

Record ID: 590777

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: HEAVY SECURITY FOR ARROYO INAUGURATION; OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS CLASH WITH POLICE; ISLAMIC MILITANTS ARRESTED.
  • Date: 29th June 2004
  • Summary: (W4) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JUNE 29, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. GV/GV/PAN: POLICE DISPERSING CROWD WITH WATER CANNON, TEAR GAS AND PROTESTERS SHIELDING THEMSELVES (5 SHOTS) 0.52 2. MCU: LOSING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, MOVIE ACTOR FERNANDO POE JUNIOR SWARMED BY FANS 1.00 3. MV/CU: TERROR SUSPECTS PRESENTED TO MEDIA; MOLOTOV BOMB PARTS; MEDIUM SHOT OF BOMB SUSPECTS; UNNAMED POLICE OFFICERS SEATED, TALKING ABOUT FOILING THE SUSPECTED TERRORISTS' PLOT (4 SHOTS) 1.34 4. MV/LAS: POLICE GUARDING GRANDSTAND SITE FOR INAUGURATION, LOW ANGLE SHOT OF ARMED POLICEMAN (2 SHOTS) 1.44 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English/Tagalog [Filipino]) MANILA POLICE CHIEF CHIEF, SUPERINTENDENT RICARDO DE LEON, SAYING: "In Metro Manila we are in full alert that means that whole 15,000 strength of National Capital Region will be available to handle not only security requirements but also anti-criminality campaign. Because we received reports that some might take advantage of our affair here to draw attention to other areas as well, like in terrorism. So we have implemented pre-emptive activities and we requested for augmentation." 2,18 6. GV/TV: SECURITY AT GRANDSTAND; MILITARY ARMOURED TRUCKS CONVOY ENTERING MANILA (6 SHOTS) 3.07 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Reuters ID: LVA748KYT1VX1J5TYA0IEWB049O1
  • Story Text: Philippine police dispersed about 5,000 opposition
    supporters protesting the election victory of President
    Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.



    Police used batons, tear gas and water cannon to
    break up a group of protesters in central Manila on Tuesday
    (June 29, 2004).

    Losing presidential candidate and Filipino film star
    Fernando Poe Jr. was present at the demonstration where
    police had to take cover behind their shields as Poe's
    supporter's threw rocks at them.

    Several protesters were injured as the crowd dispersed.

    The crowd had been listening to speeches by opposition
    activists when the police charged towards them, firing
    teargas.

    Poe's supporters, who accuse Arroyo of cheating her way
    to victory in the May 10 polls, had planned to hold several
    protests ahead of her official inauguration on Wednesday
    (June 30).

    Security forces are on alert after a group suspected of
    links to the political opposition planted three explosive
    devices in Manila last week in an apparent move to undermine
    Arroyo.

    But analysts doubt the opposition has enough support to
    launch huge protests like the one that installed Arroyo and
    deposed their man Joseph Estrada from the presidency in
    2001.

    Earlier, suspected members of the Muslim militant group
    Jemaah Islamiyah were arrested in Manila, a day before the
    inauguration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

    Officials are still investigating if the suspects are
    members of JI, which is believed to be the Southeast Asian
    arm of al Qaeda and is blamed for the deadly 2002 Bali
    bombing as well as other terror attacks in the region.

    The arrests came a day after the United States gave the
    Philippines an extra $4 million to boost intelligence-gathering
    against al-Qaeda-linked militant groups.

    The military official said the suspects were arrested
    in Taguig, in east Manila, but gave no further details.

    Troops also recovered 5 kg (11 lb) of explosives, four
    petrol bombs, and a notebook containing bomb-making
    diagrams, he said.

    The military has about 3,000 troops in the capital,
    including three army battalions trained in crowd control.

    The soldiers back up 12,000 police officers who have
    the primary role to guard the capital, in the face of
    security threats, ahead of President Gloria Macapagal
    Arroyo's inauguration on Wednesday.


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