The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Friday that it will raise the nationwide alert status from white to red on Sunday, one day before president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's national address Monday.

In an official statement, the AFP said the red alert will take effect at noon Sunday.

The announcement was made after the military ruled out regrouping of the so-called Young Officers Union (YOU) and decided to investigate who handed around dissident letters under the name of YOU that planned a coup against former president Aquino in 1989.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said that 16,000 policemen will be deployed Monday in Metro Manila to secure Arroyo 's address.

Police Director General Arturo Lomibao said the PNP is ready for a "huge" rally led by militant groups and civil society.

He said that police authorities are also monitoring underground activities to ensure law and order during the rallies.

President Arroyo will address both chambers of Congress Monday afternoon, weeks after she denied on national television that she planned to cheat in last year's elections.

Source: Xinhua