Police Information

Policeman killed in Manila violence

Tue, May 01, 2001

Source:

A policeman dies as thousands try to storm the presidential palace.

At least one policeman has been killed in the Philippines following violent clashes with supporters of former President Joseph Estrada who have been marching on the presidential palace ignoring warning shots and teargas.

A senior aide to President Gloria Arroyo said many more police officers had been wounded.

Presidential chief of staff Renato Corona said the president was directing operations from inside the palace.

Several protesters had tried to scale the gates of the Malacanang Palace but had been driven away, local radio said.

Police and elite presidential guard soldiers fired volleys of shots into the air as they drove the protesters back from the gates.

The shots were fired by a second line of riot police after some of the estimated 20,000 marchers - demanding Mrs Arroyo's resignation - hurled stones and smashed windows.

In control

The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Manila says the stand-off is continuing.

Marksmen have been deployed on top of the palace and helicopters are flying overhead.

One report said some demonstrators had used a truck to breach the security cordon.

Mr Corona said President Arroyo was safe and in control.

"She is okay, she is here in Malacanang. She is not worried," he told reporters.

Mr Corona told local radio that the policeman had been killed by a dart fired from a slingshot by one of the protesters.

Local radio reported that police and soldiers from the presidential guard had eventually managed to drive the stone-throwing marchers about 200 metres back from the gates of the palace.

Mrs Arroyo is expected to make a television appearance shortly.

Last night, there was going to be a power grab, but it fizzled out. I was hoping they would act so I could crush them

President Arroyo

She has warned that her government is prepared to use all necessary force to keep public order.

Tuesday's march began from a Manila religious shrine about 15 km from the presidential palace, where Mr Estrada's supporters have been holding their protest vigil since his arrest six days ago.

He faces charges of economic plunder - which carry a possible death sentence.

Fighting on

Supporters of the former president moved into Manila's financial district on Sunday following calls from one of Mr Estrada's sons to "show the ruling classes that we Filipinos have the right to rule".

Tens of thousands of people have been holding demonstrations for nearly a week since Mr Estrada was arrested.

There have been reports that supporters of Mr Estrada tried to recruit soldiers to return him to power by force, but there has been no violence so far.

I am calling on our people to rally behind the government. It is immoral to plot to grab power

Cardinal Jaime Sin

Armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Edilberto Adan told the Philippines Daily Inquirer newspaper that the military would remain loyal to the Arroyo government despite the recruitment efforts.

On Sunday, Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes said that the security services are "solidly behind this government".

He made similar comments in support of the Estrada government before it was toppled by public protests earlier this year.

Cardinal's intervention

The country's influential Roman Catholic cardinal, Jaime Sin, has urged people to rally behind President Arroyo, making clear he opposes any attempt to overthrow her.

"It is immoral to plot to grab power," he said.

Mr Estrada has urged his followers to continue to protest but without resorting to violence.

Mr Estrada's political party distanced itself from Tuesday's attack on the presidential palace, saying they tried but failed to dissuade the protesters, according to French news agency AFP.

The government is planning to transfer Mr Estrada to a maximum security detention centre south of Manila, away from the protesters.