The province of Oriental Negros remains peaceful amid reports of destabilization plots against the government, even as the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army in the province continue to remain loyal to the duly constituted authority.

Local chief executives also threw their support behind President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her declaration of the State of Emergency yesterday.

Gov. George Arnaiz said his administration is fully supporting the President's declaration as there are several leftist groups taking advantage of the unstable situation in Metro Manila.

"It is up to her to decide if there is a need to do this to quell possible coup attempts," Arnaiz added.

Arnaiz, however, expressed optimism that the province will continue to enjoy relative peace and said that he has been in constant communication with the PNP and the Philippine Army in the province.

Oriental Negros PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, meanwhile, assured that his men are "intact" and remain loyal to the Constitution.

"We are on double red alert, and we continue to follow the chain of command," Buenafe said.

Buenafe was visiting the police stations in southern Oriental Negros while Arnaiz was also in the hinterland barangays in direct contact with the people.

So far, there has been no reported movement of police personnel in his area, Buenafe said, adding that small groups of rallyists were monitored in the norhtern town of Guihulngan and in Dumaguete City, although he could not identify which groups have taken to the streets.

However, he assured that the police will enforce maximum tolerance and will not be breaking up these groups as long as they conduct peaceful protest activities.

"We cannot curtail freedom of speech," Buenafe said, adding that police personnel have been detailed to monitor the rallyists and remain at a safe distance from them.

The police in Oriental Negros are also adopting security measures such as checkpoints and securing vital installations in the province amidst the volatile situation in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army in Negros island, although on red alert, continues its primary mandate of keeping the peace and protecting the people against enemies of the state, Col. Jogy Leo Fojas, commander of the 303rd brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental, said.

Fojas, who issued a support statement to the Arroyo administration in a cellular phone conversation, said there is no unauthorized movement of military troops in Negros Island.

If ever there is troop movement, it is because the soldiers are being deployed to go after insurgents in the hinterlands, Fojas said.

"We are not so much as interested in the reported destablization plots as opposed to making sure we can maintain peace and order at our level," he said.

Fojas added that he has been going around Negros Island to talk to line commanders and junior officers of the Philippine Army to ensure that they remain loyal to duly constituted authority and adhere to the chain of command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Buenafe and Fojas have assured they have not, so far, received any reports of destablization plots although they are on their toes monitoring the activities of possible disgruntled groups who might take advantage of the situation.

Mayor Agustin Perdices of Dumaguete City and Mayor Hector Tata Villanueva of Bais City said they are also throwing their support behind President Arroyo and her declaration of a state of emergency in the country.

Perdices called on the people to "get on with our lives and wait for more developments in Metro Manila."

He, however, expressed belief that the city and the province will continue to remain peaceful despite the ongoing confusion at the National Capital Region.

While rallies and marches are no longer authorized in Manila, Perdices said he will allow protesters to convene and stage rallies inside the Quezon Park or the Rizal Boulevard even without a permit, provided they will not obstruct traffic and respect the rights of others.

Villanueva, for his part, said he believes that the declaration of the state of emergency will pre-empt untoward incidents such as coup de etats.

Tanjay City Mayor Baltazar Salma was also quoted as throwing his support to the President.

In Siquijor province, Gov. Orlando Fua is also supporting Arroyo's move.

Fua said the declaration of a state of emergency is the ultimate weapon to blunt all obstructionists to the goals of attaining stability of improving the battle not only against criminality but against poverty.

Siquijor PNP provincial director, Supt. Domingo Ualat, said the provincial command remains loyal to the chain of command and has been alerting every police stations for possible attacks of lawless elements.

On the other hand, militant groups in Oriental Negros lambasted PGMA's declaration of the state of emergency.*JG/RA

back to top