Senate intensifies security measures for Corona appearance

Although there are no visible threats against the impeachment court, the Senate has intensified its security measures for the much-anticipated appearance of Chief Justice Renato Corona during his impeachment trial on Tuesday.

 

"From the very beginning the security preparationss were already set... Dinadagdagan lang namin...since it's the chief justice who will be coming here," Senate sergeant-at-Arms retired Maj. Gen. Jose Balajadia Jr. said during an interview with reporters on Monday.

 

He said they specifically "increased [their] forces" in preparation for the possible demonstrations that may occur on Tuesday when Corona testifies. 

 

"We have been hearing from a lot of people that there will be demonstrations...but we are ready for that. We already have the PNP [Philippine National Police] also and the security guards," he said.

 

"So we just added our forces. I do not give numbers but we added forces to what we have existing," he added.

 

Balajadia said they have also assigned specific security detail to Corona.

 

"We really have to give...a lot of attention to his security since he is coming to our territory. We have to secure him so meron din kaming preparation for that," he said, though noting that they cannot allow Corona's armed security detail into the Senate premises.

 

And although witnesses for the defense panel usually stay in the defense's room before testifying, the Senate sergeant-at-arms said it will be up to the senators to determine where he will stay on Tuesday.  

 

"This time I have to get some guidance from the Senate President. And I think they are going to have the caucus this afternoon and we are going to find out what preparations we have to make in so far as his guidance is concerned," he said.

 

Balajadia, however, said he was confident that the situation would be peaceful on Tuesday.

 

"We haven't received any threat information from the PNP neither from the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines]. So far so good. Mukha naman yata ang tao, they really want to see this through," he said.

 

"We will anticipate any untoward incident that may happen which I don't think will happen. It's 99 percent not going to happen, but in case [it does], meron din kami diyang preparation," he added.

 

He said they will be increasing the number of tickets that they will distribute to the public on Tuesday to 200. The Senate usually distributes 175 tickets on a first-come first-served basis, with priority given to senior citizens.

 

But he noted that protesters carrying banners or wearing statement shirts shall not be allowed into the Senate session hall. "May dress code kami," he said. –KG, GMA News