Military forces in the Philippines' capital of Manila were placed on red alert on Wednesday night, two days ahead of an opposition-backed street protest.
The rally, likely to be held in Manila's Makati financial district or streets nearby the presidential palace, is to push for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after her husband was linked to alleged bribery in a government project.
Aside from securing the rally, the alert was also raised in response to intelligence reports that left-wing rebels will "infiltrate" protesters and "cause destabilization activities or create confusion," said Captain Carlo Ferrer, public information officer of the National Capital Region Command.
The Communist Party of the Philippines on Wednesday ordered its armed wing, the New People's Army, to intensify tactical offensives against government troops and installations.
"In relation to this, organizers of said rallies are advised and requested to police their own ranks so that they will not be infiltrated and have an orderly and peaceful mass action," Ferrer told reporters.
When a military unit is under red alert, troops are required to report to headquarters and all leave passes are canceled.
Besides, the police will deploy 650 anti-riot troops to the rally site in Makati on Friday, said Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia, spokesman of the National Capital Region Police Office.
Source: Xinhua
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