EDSA and Proclamation 1017

It's 8.14 am

I just woke up and turned on the AM radio.

In Vice President Noli de Castro's weekly radio program, there was mention that the newspaper Daily Tribune was raided by the Philippine National Police. Details have yet to follow.

Yesterday, after the declaration of a State of National Emergency by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the National Telecommunications Commission met with KBP member TV and radio stations for dialogue. In that dialogue, managers of TV and radio stations were told that the government was empowered to seize their stations in pursuit of national interest. This would be done, apparently, if the TV and radio stations would broadcast calls or appeals that would be tantamount to inciting to rebellion. Or, if it is perceived that they would be sympathizing with enemies of the state.

In the Philippine Daily Inquirer, an article gives an account by an undisclosed source that AFP Chief of Staff Generoso Senga had been approached by General Danny Lim, purportedly to recruit him to move against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by breaking the chain of command, withdrawing support from the President and joining anti-Gloria protestors in a rally at the EDSA Shrine. This is what had triggered yesterday's panic attack.

Talk among news reporters is that General Lim was only the spokesperson of the group aiming to oust Gloria. The actual group that would mount the coup d'etat was still in hiding.

Right now, there are people calling Proclamation 1017 or the declaration of a state of National Emergency, an attempt to enforce an undeclared martial rule.