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NCRCom conducts readiness exercise in preparation for GMA’s upcoming Sona

By Mario J. Mallari

07/04/2009

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) will conduct operational readiness exercise today in preparation for President Arroyo’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (Sona) and amid continuing reports of alleged destabilization attempt against the present administration.

Maj. Carlos Ferrer, NCRCom spokesman, said NCRCom commanding general Maj. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas has directed the conduct of mustering of troops for all units under Joint Task Force Land-NCR to determine the operational readiness of all ground forces of the command.

Ferrer, however, maintained the exercise was not in any way connected to the reported destabilization plot against the Arroyo government which was confirmed earlier by the AFP leadership which tagged at least two groups with political ambition as responsible for the plot.

The NCRCom spokesman said the exercise was being done in preparation for major security operations in the capital region like President Arroyo’s July 27 Sona at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

"The conduct of operational readiness exercise by the NCRCom is regular and periodic activity, made everytime NCRCom will conduct major security operation like the Sona. It aims to make actual measure and real time mobilization of forces to determine our response time and correct lapses and any other defects or shortcomings," Ferrer said.

Reports of destabilization plot, under the so-called Operation Plan August Moon and the spread of bombs in Metro Manila, cropped up early this week and the military blamed groups outside the AFP for the supposed attempts against the Arroyo administration.

Earlier, AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner had said the military had already identified the people behind the groups attempting to destabilize the Arroyo administration by sowing intrigues within the military through Oplan August Moon and sowing chaos by spreading bombs in the capital region.

Brawner also noted that similar scenarios happen every time President Arroyo is about to deliver her Sona.

Aside from security operation, the NCRCom’s exercise was also meant to assess its capability to response during disasters in Metro Manila.

Ferrer noted while NCRCom’s primary mission is to secure the seat of national government, it is also tasked to provide disaster response operations in times of regional emergencies like flooding due to typhoons, earthquakes among other calamities.

Part of the exercise, Ferrer said, is the inspection of forces and equipment like armor assets, trucks and other disaster response equipment and capabilities.

"This activity aims to measure the command’s ability to provide timely support to security operations of the NCR Police Office in maintaining peace and order in the region… and also measure and determine JTF Land-NCR’s capability to provide disaster response support to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the local governments in NCR," Ferrer said.