The Philippine government on Wednesday accused the opposition of "credible plans" to incite people to rise against the government, saying it will go on with a "preemptive response" to quell any attempts to sow political disorder.

The government expressed its strong stance during Wednesday's rallies held against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in commemoration of the declaration of Martial Law by former president Ferdinand Marcos 33 years ago.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita justified intelligence reports saying anti-government groups would inflame the political situation, sow disorder and incite the people against duly- constituted authorities.

Ermita said the rallies on Wednesday were actually part of the continuing moves to overthrow the government by people who wanted to grab power.

"It is an overall scheme to destabilize (the government) for the sole purpose of forcing the president to step down in spite of the fact that our congress had already decided that the impeachment complaint filed against the president (was already junked)," he said.

Under the "no permit, no rally policy," groups that assembled illegally were to be dispersed, Ermita said.

Ermita said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) was also ordered to "arrest all persons violating the laws of the land as well as ordinances on the proper conduct of mass actions and demonstrations."

As of around 4 p.m. Wednesday, Metro Manila police chief Director Vidal Querol estimated the protesting crowd gathering in Makati City at 2,000, while rally organizers placed their ranks at 10,000, also short of the 20,000 expected to attend.

Police in Metro Manila were placed on full alert and at least 2, 000 anti-riot policemen were deployed to secure the rallies.

The order for the PNP and local government units to strictly enforce a "no permit, no rally" policy was interpreted by the anti- Arroyo groups as reminiscent of the martial rule in 1972.

The destabilization attempts against President Arroyo started in June and would continue as the opposition lost their battle to impeach Arroyo on charges of cheating in the May 2004 elections.

Source: Xinhua