The visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Bacolod City on March 9 for a "Sigaw ng Bayan Charter Change Rally" has been postponed indefinitely, Gov. Joseph Marañon said yesterday.

No explanation was given for the postponement and the governor said he could not speculate if it was called off because of planned protests against Proclamation 1017 in Bacolod City the day before her visit.

It is likely that the President will come to Bacolod at a later date, Marañon said.

Transportation Undersecretary Ricardo Tan, a key ally of the president, said her visit to Bacolod was postponed because of other commitments but she will come at a later date yet to be set.

He brushed off speculation that Malacañang cancelled the trip because of the planned protests.

A prayer rally for the nation is also set to be held at the Bacolod public plaza on March 8, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said.

Marañon yesterday said the president should have lifted Proclamation 1017 earlier since the coup attempt that reportedly triggered its declaration had been quelled.

He said he is hoping the president will lift PD 1017 soon.

The governor also said he does not believe the police has the competence to censor media under a state of national emergency.

Top security advisers to President Gloria Arroyo said yesterday she could safely lift a state of national emergency put in place last week after an alleged coup plot.

"We in the Department of Justice believe that the situation can already admit the possible lifting of Presidential Proclamation 1017, but we leave that to the judgment call of the president," Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez told a press conference.

Arroyo declared the state of emergency last Friday to counter what she said was an alliance of communist rebels and "military adventurists" aimed at toppling her.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz said the security threat "continues to recede and subside" and that if this trend continues, "the Department of National Defense will recommend the lifting of the state of emergency."

Cruz and Gonzalez provided their assessments after Arroyo on Wednesday tasked them, along with National Police Chief Arturo Lomibao, with reviewing the security situation within three days.

Arroyo pledged Wednesday to give up her emergency powers, officially known as Proclamation 1017, "at the earliest possible time".

Troops and police mobilized to deter the coup plot have already been ordered to stand down from red, or full, alert status, said military spokesman Colonel Tristan Kison.

Lomibao agreed with the other two advisers that the situation was improving. "If this trend continues then we will recommend the lifting of Proclamation 1017," he said. *CPG/AFP

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