Security plan includes no-fly zone over Arroyo transfer route

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police has drawn up an elaborate security plan, including a request for a no-fly zone, for the transfer of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. on Friday said the agency had formed the “Task Force: Former President GMA (Task Force FPGMA)” to lead security arrangements for Arroyo’s departure from St. Luke’s up to her arrival and subsequent stay at Veterans.

The arrangements include a request to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to enforce a “no-fly zone” above the route of Arroyo’s transfer, he said.

The southern and eastern police districts will secure Arroyo’s transport until she reaches Quezon City, upon which the Quezon City Police District will take the rein, Cruz said.

The task force will be headed, at least for the meantime, by National Capital Region Police Office Director Alan Purisima, Cruz said.

He declined to say how many police officers would be deployed only that it would be a “sufficient” force, and would be on guard against demonstrations either by Arroyo supporters or detractors.

Cruz added that female police officers would be assigned to guard Arroyo, as per standard operating procedure.

He reiterated PNP Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome’s position that no cellular phones and computers would be allowed inside the VMMC’s 150-sqm presidential suite.