872 nabbed during curfew
In Olongapo City, about 100 workers of Hanjin shipyard in Subic were stranded in terminals after local transport groups decided to suspend operations for the duration of the curfew.
Police and military personnel rounded up a total of 872 persons after Malacañang imposed a five-hour curfew in Metro Manila and nearby provinces yesterday as part of the government’s effort to stabilize the peace and order situation.
However, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the curfew was unlawful and must be challenged before the courts.
“Depending on the security situation, it may not be necessary to impose it (curfew) for a second day, but we will have to wait and see,” said Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, adding it would allow the authorities to conduct “follow-up” security operations.
“There may still be threats that are out there and we would like to ensure in our follow-up operations that these threats will be addressed,” he said.
Puno did not specify what these other threats were but said the renegade soldiers had apparently been joined at the hotel by armed sympathizers, suspected to be former military men.
He also noted that during Trillanes’ march to the hotel, civilians, who switched to military uniforms and brought out firearms, joined the group.
During a press conference at Camp Crame yesterday, Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said of the 872 rounded up, 246 were from Metro Manila.
Of the 246 persons taken to different police stations during the curfew, 93 were from Quezon City, 50 from Northern Police District, 45 from Eastern Police District, 44 from Southern Police District and only 14 from Manila.
In Central Luzon, which is composed of seven provinces, police apprehended 236 in Bataan and five from Zambales, while 92 were collared in Cavite, 195 in Rizal, 94 in Laguna and four in Quezon.
Most of those arrested admitted they were not aware that the government had imposed a five-hour curfew.
“We are happy to announce that we had a peaceful evening last night with the curfew. There were no untoward incidents and we were able to keep some 872 curfew violators,” said Razon.
He said those rounded up during the curfew were released after 5 a.m. yesterday to ensure that unscrupulous individuals, particularly supporters of Trillanes, will not be able to mingle with them.
“We believe there is no more need to reimpose curfew since the situation has gone back to normal. We hope we can return to normal life,” said Razon.
He said the clampdown was very liberal and almost everybody was allowed to go about their usual routines because of the exemptions.
Those exempted were people whose job entails transporting goods, passengers of airlines taking late or early domestic or international flights, emergency cases and firemen and paramedics.
Also exempted were drivers of taxis, buses, jeepneys, and tricycles; on-duty doctors and other medical and health care practitioners; police and the military, night shift workers such as those in call centers and factories and members of the diplomatic corps.
The PNP chief also noted that legitimate media people were also exempted, thus allowing some reporters covering the Camp Crame beat to attend Razon’s media briefing held almost midnight on Thursday.
Razon has also lifted the suspension of the permit to carry firearms outside residence.
Zero crime rate
Meanwhile, the crime rate plummeted to zero in the entire Central Luzon for the duration of the curfew yesterday, although the police held 274 persons after they were caught outdoors during the curfew hours.
“I have confirmed from all police stations throughout Central Luzon that not a single criminal activity was reported in any part of the region for the duration of the curfew hours,” Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan told The STAR.
There were, however, some curfew violations. Reports reaching Central Luzon police indicated that President Arroyo’s hometown in Lubao posted the most number of persons caught violating curfew in Pampanga.
The biggest number of curfew violators in Central Luzon, however, was reported in Guiguinto, Bulacan where 74 persons were held in the local police station up to 5 a.m.
In Olongapo City, about 100 workers of Hanjin shipyard in Subic were stranded in terminals after local transport groups decided to suspend operations for the duration of the curfew.
Pan also said that there were no unusual military movements reported anywhere in Central Luzon.
“The only military movements were those authorized by the armed forces Northern Luzon Command,” he said.
In Zambales, three persons were held in Barangay Matain in Subic but were allowed to go home at 5 a.m. Local authorities in Subic also advised karaoke bars and other entertainment establishments to shut down during the curfew.
The police in Bataan and Nueva Ecija reported no curfew violations.
Pan, however, said that Razon may order the reimposition of the curfew depending on the conditions on the ground.
“It’s up to the PNP chief to extend the curfew,” Pan said.
He said the PNP would act on the situation based on certain reports. “If there is an impending threat, then we will implement it (curfew) on the ground,” he said.
He also said the regional police in Mrs. Arroyo’s home region is looking at specific threat groups, not harmless individuals or ordinary citizens who do not pose a threat at all to the overall security of the region.
In fact, he said, civilians and commuters who were on their way home and got caught up in the curfew were allowed to go home because they were not considered as threats.
Pan said that while the curfew affected the economy in the region, it, however, slowed down the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and criminal elements. “It’s a matter of balancing economic activity and controlling crime,” he said. – Aurea Calica, Non Alquitran, Ding Cervantes, Manny Galvez --- By Cecille Suerte Felipe - Philippine Star
Police and military personnel rounded up a total of 872 persons after Malacañang imposed a five-hour curfew in Metro Manila and nearby provinces yesterday as part of the government’s effort to stabilize the peace and order situation.
However, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the curfew was unlawful and must be challenged before the courts.
“Depending on the security situation, it may not be necessary to impose it (curfew) for a second day, but we will have to wait and see,” said Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, adding it would allow the authorities to conduct “follow-up” security operations.
“There may still be threats that are out there and we would like to ensure in our follow-up operations that these threats will be addressed,” he said.
Puno did not specify what these other threats were but said the renegade soldiers had apparently been joined at the hotel by armed sympathizers, suspected to be former military men.
He also noted that during Trillanes’ march to the hotel, civilians, who switched to military uniforms and brought out firearms, joined the group.
During a press conference at Camp Crame yesterday, Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said of the 872 rounded up, 246 were from Metro Manila.
Of the 246 persons taken to different police stations during the curfew, 93 were from Quezon City, 50 from Northern Police District, 45 from Eastern Police District, 44 from Southern Police District and only 14 from Manila.
In Central Luzon, which is composed of seven provinces, police apprehended 236 in Bataan and five from Zambales, while 92 were collared in Cavite, 195 in Rizal, 94 in Laguna and four in Quezon.
Most of those arrested admitted they were not aware that the government had imposed a five-hour curfew.
“We are happy to announce that we had a peaceful evening last night with the curfew. There were no untoward incidents and we were able to keep some 872 curfew violators,” said Razon.
He said those rounded up during the curfew were released after 5 a.m. yesterday to ensure that unscrupulous individuals, particularly supporters of Trillanes, will not be able to mingle with them.
“We believe there is no more need to reimpose curfew since the situation has gone back to normal. We hope we can return to normal life,” said Razon.
He said the clampdown was very liberal and almost everybody was allowed to go about their usual routines because of the exemptions.
Those exempted were people whose job entails transporting goods, passengers of airlines taking late or early domestic or international flights, emergency cases and firemen and paramedics.
Also exempted were drivers of taxis, buses, jeepneys, and tricycles; on-duty doctors and other medical and health care practitioners; police and the military, night shift workers such as those in call centers and factories and members of the diplomatic corps.
The PNP chief also noted that legitimate media people were also exempted, thus allowing some reporters covering the Camp Crame beat to attend Razon’s media briefing held almost midnight on Thursday.
Razon has also lifted the suspension of the permit to carry firearms outside residence.
Zero crime rate
Meanwhile, the crime rate plummeted to zero in the entire Central Luzon for the duration of the curfew yesterday, although the police held 274 persons after they were caught outdoors during the curfew hours.
“I have confirmed from all police stations throughout Central Luzon that not a single criminal activity was reported in any part of the region for the duration of the curfew hours,” Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan told The STAR.
There were, however, some curfew violations. Reports reaching Central Luzon police indicated that President Arroyo’s hometown in Lubao posted the most number of persons caught violating curfew in Pampanga.
The biggest number of curfew violators in Central Luzon, however, was reported in Guiguinto, Bulacan where 74 persons were held in the local police station up to 5 a.m.
In Olongapo City, about 100 workers of Hanjin shipyard in Subic were stranded in terminals after local transport groups decided to suspend operations for the duration of the curfew.
Pan also said that there were no unusual military movements reported anywhere in Central Luzon.
“The only military movements were those authorized by the armed forces Northern Luzon Command,” he said.
In Zambales, three persons were held in Barangay Matain in Subic but were allowed to go home at 5 a.m. Local authorities in Subic also advised karaoke bars and other entertainment establishments to shut down during the curfew.
The police in Bataan and Nueva Ecija reported no curfew violations.
Pan, however, said that Razon may order the reimposition of the curfew depending on the conditions on the ground.
“It’s up to the PNP chief to extend the curfew,” Pan said.
He said the PNP would act on the situation based on certain reports. “If there is an impending threat, then we will implement it (curfew) on the ground,” he said.
He also said the regional police in Mrs. Arroyo’s home region is looking at specific threat groups, not harmless individuals or ordinary citizens who do not pose a threat at all to the overall security of the region.
In fact, he said, civilians and commuters who were on their way home and got caught up in the curfew were allowed to go home because they were not considered as threats.
Pan said that while the curfew affected the economy in the region, it, however, slowed down the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and criminal elements. “It’s a matter of balancing economic activity and controlling crime,” he said. – Aurea Calica, Non Alquitran, Ding Cervantes, Manny Galvez --- By Cecille Suerte Felipe - Philippine Star
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
6:16 AM
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