MANILA, Philippines -- Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Friday the Palace was aware of destabilization plots that would be timed with the President’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 28.

Ermita said the Palace was “not overly concerned” because security forces were “not sleeping on the job.”

Police last Wednesday arrested opposition leader Homobono Adaza, three ex-military officers and an active colonel for allegedly trying to raise funds to support a new coup attempt against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration.

The Palace knows that there are groups that are planning to stage protest actions when Arroyo delivers her address to Congress at the end of this month, Ermita said.

There will be demonstrations, he added, “but not as bad as before.”

“We have advanced information. That’s the advantage with being in the administration,” Ermita told reporters after attending the welcome ceremonies in the Palace for returning boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

Ermita noted that dissidents “tend to choose milestone days” to launch their destabilization attempts, such as May 1 and the anniversary of the Edsa people power revolution.