Due to the incident earlier today which Manila metblogs covered here, here and here. A curfew has been declared in the entire Metro and outlying provinces. Please be advised that only essential personnel are allowed to be on the roads during the curfew from 12AM tonight to 5AM tomorrow.
Now that the stand off is over (yay!) we made a quicklist of learning lessons from today’s experience with…
Ten questions to ask oneself about today’s Makati Standoff
10. Can you call for a mutiny while being charged for calling a mutiny?
9. Why does religion keep dipping its grubby little hand in politics?
8. What is Trillanes’ beef with hotels?
7. …and why can’t he storm say Embassy or Alchemy? (Was he not in the guest list?)
6. Was he bored while court was in session?
5. Is it newsworthy to say “Binabato kami ng teargas, naiiyak ako!” while being lobbed with teargas?
4. Did Trillanes order room service?
3. Will there be a part three? …and will he sell it as a 3-part movie series to Carlo J. Caparas?
2. When the tank entered Manila Pen’s Lobby, did security have to inspect its trunk?
1. How can a senator not know the concept of Due Process?
Warning shots have been fired near Manila Peninsula as the police and SWAT are ready to storm the hotel. Most offices in the area have ordered evacuation including some government offices. Check out this page from the Magdalo group inciting people to come to Ayala ave. and participate in the madness. So anyone still going to Ayala Mall’s midnight madness tonight or… wait, this isn’t part of it?
According to the latest reports, Trillanes and the rest of the rallyists are at the Manila Peninsula where they are scheduled to hold a press conference. Police barricades have been put up around Ayala Avenue while the entire Metro Manila is on Full Red Alert. The Armed Forces claim that they do not support the rally nor any coup.
Inquirer - Metro Manila police on full alert
Inquirer - Trillanes, comrades holed up at Makati hotel
ABS-CBN - Arroyo ouster move isolated, says military
The court hearing against Trillanes and Lim has turned for the worse with a rally in Makati. According to this news report from Inquirer, “Trillanes and Lim said they were calling on the Filipinos to withdraw support from the government because the President has corrupted its institutions.” We’re checking for more info on how it’s going to turn out.
Inquirer - Trillanes, rebel officers walk out of court, march in Makati
ABS-CBN - Trillanes, Lim call for Arroyo ouster
Breaking News!
An earthquake has just been reported around different parts of the Metro from Manila, Makati, Alabang and Quezon city. No evacuation orders have been reported yet.
USGS has centered the magnitude 6.0 earthquake near Pangasinan in this map. The Philvocs site is unaccsebile though perhaps from the thousands who are trying to get information on the earthquake.
ABS-CBN News is reporting the quake at 4.2 magnitude with epicenter 77 kilometers from Lingayen in Pangasinan.
Inquirer however is yet to feature more information on the quake.
Watch this news clip from GMA featuring an interview with Philvocs Director Renato Solidum.
WTF? Three Typhoons are currently in the Philippines with “Mina” pulling back “Lando” - which have already left for Vietnam and “Nonoy” which is about to enter the Philippines soon. Mina may have already spared Manila but Lando and Nonoy may not be too kind. Keep safe all.
Manila Times - 7 die as ‘Mina’ veers north; new storm threatens RP
Be warned people, PAGASA says the super typhoon Mina (which has an area that blocks out the entire Luzon!) will be making land fall over the weekend. Stock up on emergency supplies like cash, water, batteries and food. Mina might be the next Milenyo. Signal no. 3 is already up in most of Region 5 and these areas are expected to be worst hit, provinces closer to Manila are only up to Signal no. 1 while Manila may already have a Signal raised by Sunday.
As a precaution, why not try to board up windows and trim trees before Sunday just to stay safe. A lot of problems caused during Milenyo was due to trees falling on power lines, call Meralco if needed. If you have Ad Billboards still up in your area, you may try to report them to the MMDA. Stay safe everyone.
The decision of the PNP is final and conclusive as they released official findings that the explosion in Glorietta 2 was due to a gas explosion. The question still remains though, is Ayala Land liable for the incident that killed 11 and injured about 100 people?
The entire Glorietta 2 area has been cordoned off and all stores in the mall have ceased to operate, is Ayala also responsible for the financial loss of these establishments? I wonder myself if insurance covers this kinds of events.
Ew.
Rats have invaded a village in Manila and have started attacking people (including babies). Now I’m just waiting for news on whether they can cook.
