MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Wednesday appealed to media not to follow her security convoy when she’s transferred from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig to her detention cell at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City on Friday.
Elena Bautista Horn, spokeswoman of Mrs. Arroyo, also said she has requested the Philippine National Police (PNP) for strict security to ensure the smooth transfer to VMMC.
“It was the police that told us that there would only be one coaster from us that will be part of the convoy,” Horn said.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, part of the legal team of the Arroyos, said allowing media vehicles to follow the security convoy could lead to “security risks” during the transfer of Mrs. Arroyo to VMMC on Friday.
Topacio said their camp has already received the schedule and security plans of the PNP in transferring Mrs. Arroyo to VMMC.
Topacio advised the media to instead wait for the security convoy to arrive at the VMMC.
Topacio also said the Arroyo camp will request the Philippine National Police (PNP) not to handcuff the former President during her transfer to Veterans.
He said that there is no need for the police to handcuff Mrs. Arroyo as she has no intention of escaping.
“I don’t think they (police) will allow a former President to suffer that indignity,” Topacio said.
“There’s no need for that scenario. I don’t think that they (Philippine National Police) would do that. Hindi naman malupit ang ating kapulisan,” he added.
Meanwhile, the PNP will likely forego the use of helicopter in transferring Mrs. Arroyo to the VMMC.
Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., PNP spokesman, said all their security preparations are now focused on the use of a vehicle, which will be backed up by police escorts and policemen along the route from St. Luke’s to the VMMC on Friday.
“Most likely, we will not use a helicopter. We have already prepared security coverage and we will be ready on Friday,” said Cruz.
Ironically, among the reliable helicopters of the PNP are the three controversial Raven choppers, two of them were reportedly second-hand and previously owned by the Arroyos but bought by the PNP in 2009 as brand new.
But Cruz would not disclose the exact number of policemen and vehicles that will be involved, saying all that he could say is that they will have enough forces to ensure the safety of the former President.
He said that from the point of origin at the St. Luke’s in Taguig City to the VMMC in Quezon City, there will be enough policemen that will be deployed, even along the convoy route.
“We have prepared for this and our security preparations will cover even worse-case scenarios,” said Director General Nicanor Bartolome, PNP chief for his part.
Bartolome said part of the preparations is the handling of the protesters who are expected to hold rallies on Friday either at the St. Luke’s or at the VMMC.
“We always expect people holding rallies but we have CDM (Civil Disturbance Management) contingent that will be assigned near the gates of the VMMC,” said Bartolome.
He said they are even coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for possible troop augmentation on Friday.
AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the military is ready to assist the PNP.
The military also said it has not monitored any threat to the life of the former Commander-in-Chief.
Cruz said that most likely scenario on Friday is that the vehicle of the former President will be backed up by less than 10 vehicles and that the roads where the convoy would pass will also be secured.
There would be some limitations on media coverage but Cruz said they will be allowed to tail the convoy up to the VMMC.
“But the media will not be allowed to go in the area which we have already secured at the VMMC. But from what I know, there will be a designated area where press briefing will be held after the transfer,” said Cruz.
Aside from the deployment of enough policemen to secure the VMMC, Cruz said they also expect that closed-circuit television (CCTV) will also be installed in key areas at the VMMC.
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