‘This is not martial law’--PNP chief

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) The government, through Interior and Local Secretary Ronaldo Puno has imposed a curfew throughout Metro Manila, in Central Luzon (Region 3), and CALABARZON (Region 4-A).

The curfew starts 12 midnight to 5 a.m. Friday.

"We are doing this to protect the citizenry. This is not martial law,"
Philippine National Police Chief Avelino Razon told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

Razon said the curfew would hopefully be implemented for just a day.

In a news briefing in Malacañang, Puno appealed to the public to "bear with the inconvenience" brought about by the declaration of the curfew.

He said the curfew was issued "to allow law enforcement agencies to continue their follow-up operation."

Philippine National Police Chief Avelino Razon has been directed to issue the guidelines on the curfew, Puno added.

"We would encourage everyone to cooperate with the rules and guidelines relative to this curfew," he said.

Puno said regions 3 and 4-A were included in the curfew because there were some areas here that were part of the greater Manila area.

"Police authorities want to ensure that Manila is safe and sound," he said.

Asked if there was a possibility of extending the curfew, Puno said this could be the case "if the follow up operations that would ensue will not achieve their objectives," but added that this would be reviewed on a day-to-day basis.

Puno said public transportation would not be allowed to ply in the period of curfew.

He added that those that would be in the streets during the period of curfew would be the subject of "serious scrutiny" in checkpoints that would be set-up in the three regions affected.

Puno said those that would be subjected to checkpoints should be able to present valid identification cards and should not be carrying weapons.

www.newsinfo.inquirer.net

This is really sad. I just hope that GMA does not declare martial law, although there is already a curfew from 12AM- 5AM from what my hubby told me.

Did I miss something

Yes, you did.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/default.stm

I think its not really martial law but they are making the curfew for the safety of our fellow filipinos. They maybe want to clear the area so that they can control the security and they are not sure enough to identify Trillanes group that are still free.

It so sad that this is happening....

Ohh I had been watching the whole news from 1:30pm to 8pm. Sad to those who wants to travel tonight for their holiday tomorrow. I will expect a heavy traffic tomorrow in Manila.

I saw the whole thing starting 11am til' 8:30pm

SO sad and scary...

I'm hoping my wife isn't affected by what may happen. She lives in Taguig and works in Intramuros.

you can say that again. i'm leaving for the PI today....& i'm feeling a little shaky right now.

this curfe is not bat at all its for the benefit of all those people living nearby the metro. we'll keep on prayin for peace in our govt today.

Its only for a day..

For those in the U.S. who would like to read more coverage of the event:

http://www.manilatimes.net/

I hope they will catch the bad guys