No security threats so far in Corona’s Senate impeach trial

So far so good.

The Senate has not received any security threat days before Monday’s opening of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial.

Senate Sergeant at Arms Jose Balajadia told reporters that he had not received any reports of potential disturbance from intelligence units of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

However, the retired brigadier general said a request had been made for the deployment of additional police forces to deal with rallies expected on the first day of the trial in the Senate area at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex on reclaimed land at the edge of Manila Bay.

Manuel Parlade, the Senate security director, said personnel of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms would be posted in strategic areas in the Senate building, like the session hall, the designated work areas of the prosecution and defense panels and media, as well as the parking grounds.

K-9 sniffing dogs from the Philippine Air Force would check for explosives.

Parlade said that 40 riot policemen would also be posted at the Manila Film Center, about 100 meters away from the Senate building “to defuse possible demonstrations.” Cathy C. Yamsuan