MANILA, Philippines -- The military vowed to go “full force” against attempts to grab power, mustering 2,000 fully-armed troops and 16 battle tanks and armored personnel carriers on Friday, hours before a huge anti-government rally in Makati City.

“Whoever is planning to use force to grab power will be met with the full force of the Armed Forces,” Major General Fernando Mesa, chief of the military’s National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), said in a pep talk to the troops assembled at the Camp Aguinaldo grandstand.

“Everything we will do will be according to the law and to the Constitution,” Mesa said.

At the same time, NCRCom troops started to put light blue stickers on the collars of their fatigue uniforms and the butt of their firearms, as a counter-sign.

Captain Carlo Ferrer, NCRCom spokesman, said this was due to reports civilians would pose as soldiers and join the Makati rally to give the public the impression that troops against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were withdrawing support from government and joining calls for her ouster.

Ferrer said all NCRCom troops would be required to wear the counter-signs at nightfall. He added that the color of the sticker could vary depending on the threat level.

One of the soldiers explained the purpose of the stickers: “Para malaman namin kung sino ang kalaban pag nagkagulo [So we will know who the enemy are if there is trouble].”

Ferrer said two civil disturbance management (CDM) companies of 100 troops each have been sent to guard Malacañang Palace.

Five other companies were dispatched to Fort Bonifacio, where the headquarters of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Marines are located.