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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9481
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 000839 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, DS, CA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINS ASEC CASC PREL RP
SUBJECT: SITREP 2:  MORE ON DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY RULE 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
 
REF: MANILA 830 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  In a meeting with the diplomatic corps 
late February 24, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo and 
National Security Advisor Norberto Gonzales downplayed the 
impact of the State of Emergency Declaration made earlier 
that day, defending it as a necessary response to Opposition 
and leftist destabilizers.  The situation in Manila continues 
to be calm, as in the rest of the country.  No serious 
incidents of violence have been reported.  EAC met 
mid-afternoon and approved a Warden message.  EAC will meet 
again on the afternoon of February 25th.  Mission has put it 
in place a 24-hour task force to monitor events.  Embassy 
issued a statement on February 24, after considerable press 
interest (text in para 7).  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) Foreign Secretary Romulo and National Security 
Advisor Norberto Gonzales sought to assure the diplomatic 
community on February 24 that the declaration of a State of 
Emergency issued by President Arroyo earlier that day 
(reftel) did not represent an expansion of executive power. 
Secretary Romulo repeatedly asserted that the declaration 
 
SIPDIS 
granted no extraordinary powers to the President, that human 
rights and due process would not be curtailed, and that it 
was meant as a warning only to "misguided people."  He said 
he expected that everyday life for Filipinos and foreign 
nationals would be "largely unaffected" and the situation 
that required the measures would subside "in no time." 
Romulo and Gonzales both assured the diplomatic corps that 
the government would operate according to existing laws, 
which were strong enough to deal with those who openly 
conduct armed rebellion and plot destabilization. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Gonzales said that the "State of Emergency" was 
necessary because "the political contest had gone too far." 
He said it is imperative to separate those who engage in 
legitimate political discourse from those who do not respect 
the process.  He offered as examples the Communist Party of 
the Philippines, whom he accused of using the might of its 
8,000-member armed wing to influence the political contest 
for power, and members of the military who advocate operating 
outside the chain of command.  Gonzales promised to work 
constructively with legitimate political groups but to bring 
the "full force of the law" down on those who advocate 
violence or destabilization. 
 
¶4.  (U) The situation in Manila continues to be calm, as in 
the rest of the country.  Traffic is moving relatively 
normally in Manila, though some tie-ups are reported. 
Despite the GRP's revocation of all rally permits earlier in 
the day, an Opposition rally involving several thousand 
protesters was still taking place in Makati City, the 
country's business center, as of 1800.  The rally has drawn 
many Opposition luminaries.  Former President Cory Aquino 
again publicly called on President Arroyo to make "the 
supreme sacrifice."  Supporters of former president Joseph 
Estrada also continued to rally outside a hospital, where he 
is a patient, in the San Juan area of Manila.  Several 
participants in rallies have been arrested, including Randy 
David, a well-known university professor and critic of 
Arroyo's.  No serious incidents of violence have been 
reported.  Former president Fidel Ramos has announced that he 
will be holding a press conference on the afternoon of 
February 25. 
 
¶5.  (U) Armed Forces Chief of Staff Generoso Senga, when 
asked at a press conference about U.S. troops in the south, 
particularly in the Balikatan 2006 exercise and those 
deployed to assist in Leyte for mudslide relief, stressed 
that the declaration of a State of Emergency did not involve 
them in any way. 
 
¶6.  (U) EAC met again mid-afternoon and approved an updated 
Warden message.  EAC will meet again on the afternoon of 
February 25.  Mission has put it in place a 24-hour task 
force to monitor events.  There are no reports of incidents 
involving Amcits. 
 
¶7.  (U)  At COB, Embassy issued following statement, 
following numerous press inquiries: 
quote 
Statement:  State of Emergency in the Philippines 
 
President Arroyo declared a State of National Emergency on 
February 24.  Secretary of Foreign Affairs Romulo briefed the 
diplomatic corps on the declaration on the same day.  The 
 
MANILA 00000839  002 OF 003 
 
 
U.S. Government is monitoring the situation in the 
Philippines very closely.  The U.S. Embassy has issued a 
Warden Message to American citizens in the Philippines, 
advising them to take prudent steps to ensure their personal 
safety during this uncertain time.  We call on the Government 
of the Philippines and the Filipino people to respect fully 
the rule of law, protect civil liberties and human rights, 
and reject violence. 
end quote 
 
¶8.  (U) Attached below is the text of the Proclamation of 
Emergency Rule: 
 
Begin text: 
 
MALACANANG PALACE 
MANILA 
 
PROCLAMATION NO. 1017 
 
PROCLAMATION DECLARING A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY 
 
WHEREAS, over these past months, elements in the political 
opposition have conspired with authoritarians of the extreme 
Left represented by the NDF-CPP-NPA and the extreme Right, 
represented by military adventurists-the historical enemies 
of the democratic Philippine State-who are now in a tactical 
alliance and engaged in a concerted and systematic 
conspiracy, over a broad front, to bring down the 
duly-constituted Government elected in May 2004; 
 
WHEREAS, these conspirators have repeatedly tried to bring 
down the President; 
 
WHEREAS, the claims of these elements have been recklessly 
magnified by certain segments of the national media; 
 
WHEREAS, this series of actions is hurting the Philippine 
State-by obstructing governance including hindering the 
growth of the economy and sabotaging the people's confidence 
in government and their faith in the future of this country; 
 
WHEREAS, these actions are adversely affecting the economy; 
 
WHEREAS, these activities give totalitarian forces of both 
the extreme Left and extreme Right the opening to intensify 
their avowed aims to bring down the democratic Philippine 
State; 
 
WHEREAS, Article 2, Section 4 of our Constitution makes the 
defense and preservation of the democratic institutions and 
the State the primary duty of Government; 
 
WHEREAS, the activities above-described, their consequences, 
ramifications and collateral effects constitute a clear and 
present danger to the safety and the integrity of the 
Philippine State and of the Filipino people; 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the 
Republic of the Philippines and Commander-in-Chief of the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers 
vested upon me by Section 18, Article 7 of the Philippine 
Constitution which states that:  "The President...whenever it 
becomes necessary,...may call out (the) armed forces to 
prevent or suppress...rebellion...," and in my capacity as 
their Commander-in-Chief, do hereby command the Armed Forces 
of the Philippines, to maintain law and order throughout the 
Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless 
violence as well any act of insurrection or rebellion and to 
enforce obedience to all the laws and to all decrees, orders 
and regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my 
direction; and as provided in Section 17, Article 12 of the 
Constitution do hereby declare a State of National Emergency. 
 
IN WITNESS HEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the 
seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed. 
 
Done in the City of Manila, this 24th day of February, in the 
year of Our Lord, two thousand and six. 
 
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 
President 
Republic of the Philippines 
 
End Text. 
 
 
MANILA 00000839  003 OF 003 
 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
 
Jones