MP3 OF JOSEPH ESTRADA ON RMN NEWS AT 7:00 AM RMN NEWSJOSEPH ESTRADA has just told radio announcer Eli Saludar, in an unexpected cell phone call, that he is refusing to leave the San Juan Medical Center after he was told the Palace has ordered him moved back to Tanay. I just heard him say that he is willing to die in his hometown of San Juan, rather than let police move him back to detention in Tanay, Rizal. The former President was scheduled for eye surgery to remove a cyst tonight, but apparently the Palace is in "paranoia" mode, according to a radio reporter. A crowd of his hard-core supporters has apparently gathered around him. AM Radio is unusually abuzz with the early morning happening since before dawn: All schools in the National Capitol Region have been closed at elementary, high school and college levels (DepEd Fe Hidalgo and Ched's Carlito Puno) ...the Malacanang Press Corps has been excluded from the Palace grounds(per Ray Mercaral)... police and military are on double red alert...Even low-level Palace employees have also been excluded...The situation is deemed not normal by Ray Mercaral, veteran radio reporter of RMN News.
UPDATES all day here and at Ye Olde Philippine Commentary
(8:00 GMT+8) Secretary Mike Defensor says President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be making a statement shortly on the statement of former President Joseph Estrada, in about one hour. Something abnormal has apparently happened or is happening in the vicinity of the Palace...the entire First Family is presently closeted in Malcanang Palace. An emergency National Security Meeting is ongoing...talk of Emergency Rule being declared is rife...The Malacanang Press Corps has been excluded from the normal press working area...
(0830) The Palace blinks on Erap? After a tense stand-off, the Sandiganbayan has relented and will allow Erap to stay put for his operation and not tempt his hordes with an opportunity for a flash point.
(0845) Chief of Staff Mike Defensor has just announced a TOTAL GUN BAN in the entire country, whether or not persons have a license for them. The relief of General Danilo Lim has been confirmed.
(0930) Command conferences (read: loyalty checks) have been going on in all the major military commands. The first one was held at the Palace around 3:00 am after news spread that retired General Ramon Montano had issued a call to all Armed Forces personnel "to withdraw support from the government of Pres. Arroyo." This according to ABSCBN News' morning tv anchor, Twink Macaraeg, talking to AFP Chief of Staff Generoso Senga. Still awaiting the President...
(1000) ABSCBN News via Ricky Carandang says the relieved Gen. Danilo Lim had earlier asked the AFP Chief of Staff Generoso Senga to withdraw support for the President and join the coalition seeking her ouster, but that he refused. In San Juan, two large speaker systems have been set up to entertain the growing crowd gathering around Erap....Still no Palace Press Conference yet...Some deep, deep game is afoot...
(1100) National Capital Region Police Chief Vidal Querol has just told ABSCBN News that all rally permits are deemed cancelled for today and warns various protest groups against attempting to hold demonstrations at the usual places. However, the corner of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Ortigas Avenue in Manila is now closed to vehicular traffic due to a large crowd of people wanting to attend Holy Mass there at noon. The police tried to close the Church doors, and cancel the regular service, but the large number of people prevailed. Something is going on down there just a few blocks away...maybe I'll go down there in a while. AM Radio DZMM is describing another large contingent of protest marchers headed south on EDSA towards the Shrine from the Quezon Memorial Circle. Dispersal units are said to be readying to meet them to prevent their reaching the Edsa Shrine...
(1110) A dispersal order against the crowds gathering at various points along EDSA has just been confirmed by police operations director just interviewed by Michael Rogas of DZMM 588 Manila AM radio. Philippine flags and large streamers calling for Gloria to Resign are now visible all along the Edsa Flyover near the Edsa Shrine. This could get ugly soon if cooler heads don't prevail, the sounds of the crowd remind me of....2001...
(1115) Colonel Restituto Padilla, spokesman of the Philippine Air Force confirms that all units are standing firm with the chain of command. From Laguna's Camp Vicente Lim, General Noble, Region IV military commander, reports no unauthorized troop movements towards Manila has been monitored from the southern suburbs. He confirms his commands commitment to the President. Entrances into Manila at the South Luzon and North Luzon Expressways (SLEX and NLEX) are reported to be heavily guarded by army units interdicting rallyists who usually arrive in overloaded jeepneys or small buses.
(1120) NCRPO Chief Vidal Querol has just announced the relief of the head of Special Action Force head Gen. Michaelino Franco because of persistent reports of "recruitment" in that crucial police unit and has already been replaced.
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