People who need to be outside their homes during a curfew between midnight of Thursday and 5 a.m. Friday must have their ID cards ready, while those found carrying firearms will be automatically brought in for "verification."

Interior Secretary and presidential political adviser Ronaldo Puno said Thursday night he also ordered the police personnel manning the checkpoints to be "reasonable and respectful."

"We will be reasonable and respectful in all these checkpoints. (But) everyone moving at this period should be sure they have their IDs and are not carrying weapons of any sort," he said.

Those without ID cards will merely be "inconvenienced," he said.

"It is a necessary inconvenience but necessary to maintain peace and order," he added.

He said those carrying weapons "whether licensed or otherwise" will automatically be brought to the nearest police precinct for verification.

For his part, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon Jr. said the curfew is a process to restore peace and order in Metro Manila.

"Hopefully it is a process para ma-restore ang peace and order sa Kamaynilaan. So far yun pa lang ang ating tinitingnan (Hopefully it is a process to restore peace and order to Metro Manila) ... Hopefully we will do it for only one day," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Source: GMANews.TV
Dated: 11/29/2007

On the heels of the standoff in Makati City between mutinous soldiers and government troops, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has imposed a curfew from 12 midnight Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday, in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

She failed, however, to issue guidelines to govern the measure that officials said could be extended.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said President Arroyo ordered the imposition of the curfew which will cover Metro Manila, Central Luzon and the Calabarzon region.

Puno said National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr will be announcing the details of the curfew, adding that checkpoints will be set up in relation to this directive.

Source: GMANews.TV
Dated: 11/29/2007

What follows is the full text of the statement aired over national television of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the Makati standoff:

"Mga kababayan, nagpupugay tayo sa mga alagad ng batas, katulong ang mga kawal ng Sandatahang Lakas, sa mabisa at mabilis na pagresolba sa ligalig sa Makati. Ating ini-utos na pawiin ang anumang mga bantang nalalabi upang mapa-iral nang lubusan ang batas at kaayusan.

"Dapat walang duda sa pag-iral ng batas sa bansang ito, at sa kakayahan ng Pamahalaan na iaptupad ang tama laban sa mali.

"Ang mali at ligaw na gawain ng iilan ay hindi nangungusap para sa taong bayan o sa hukbo at kapulisan. Gaya ng dati, ipapataw sa kanila ang buong tindi ng katarungan nang buong higpit at walang palugit.

"Itutuloy ang paglitis ng mga rebeldend sundalo hanggang sa wakas alinsunod sa batas. Ayon sa nararapat, maghahanda ng karagdagang mga asunto upang panagutin ang mga gumawa ng bagong krimen.

"Walang patid ang linya ng panunungkulan ng Sandatahang Lakas; at patuloy ang ating mga kawal at pulis sa kanilang makabayani at mapagmalasakit na paglilingkod sa buong bansa. Nananalig tayo sa mga naka-uniporme sa kanilang pagtataguyod ng lehitimong awtoridad at mahal na watawat.

"Nananawagan tayo sa lahat na talikdan na itong sandaling ligalig at balikan ang gawain ng taumbayan. Hindi dapat matigil kahit sandali ang ating pakikibaka laban sa kahirapan at para sa katarungan.

"Paulit-ulit nating ipinamalas sa mundo ang katatagan ng mga institusyon ng ating demokrasya at ang kalakasan nitong pamahalaan. Saligan ng ating matatag na republika ang malakas na ekonomiya na buong itinataguyod ng sambayanang Pilipino."

Source: GMANews.TV
Dated: 11/29/2007

Authorities also loaded some reporters and photojournalists onto a separate police bus after they failed to convince police they are members of media organizations, radio DZBB reported.

Among those rounded up was Raul Esperas of radio DWIZ and several photographers.

Earlier police accompanied Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV into a police van and will reportedly be taken back into his quarters at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters in Taguig City.

Television footage also showed former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr, who was smiling before the crowd outside the Manila Peninsula hotel, was boarded on the same vehicle.

He was followed by Brigadier Gen. Danilo Lim, who along with Trillanes led a protest march earlier in the day from a Makati courtroom to the Manila Peninsula.

The hands of both Guingona and Lim were bound.

Two members of the Catholic church, Fr Robert Reyes and Bishop Julio Labayen, were also boarded onto the bus.

Source: GMANews.TV
Dated: 11/29/2007

The United States government warned its nationals in the Philippines to avoid the vicinity of the Manila Peninsula hotel in Makati City, where Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and their supporters have gathered since walking out of a court hearing Thursday morning.

In a public announcement posted on its website, the US Embassy in Manila said demonstrators have already started to converge near the hotel and emergency vehicles are already causing tightening of traffic flow in the area.

"The parties involved in the 2003 'Oakwood Mutiny' have walked out of the Makati Regional Trial Courthouse in protest of court proceedings," the US embassy said.

"Approximately 50 individuals are demonstrating along Makati Avenue in the vicinity of the Manila Peninsula Hotel. Emergency vehicles and personnel are in the area causing considerable traffic delays. All are encouraged to avoid this area," it added.

Source: GMANews.TV
Dated: 11/29/07