IT’S all systems go for the transfer of former president now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today  from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

Mrs. Arroyo will stay at the state-run hospital while the electoral sabotage complaint against her is being heard by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court.

Supt. Dionardo Carlos, spokesman of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said they have already completed the preparations for Arroyo’s transfer.

Security will be tight as authorities are wary of the disclosure of the camp of an assassination plot dubbed “Oplan Put The Little Girl To Sleep” against her.

Carlos did not say how many policemen will be deployed to secure the transfer but added they have enough personnel to deal with any contingency.

The security for the transfer will be composed of personnel from the NCRPO, the Southern Police District, Quezon City Police District and even from the Armed Forces of the Philippines-National Capital Region Command.

Authorities would not reveal the route Arroyo’s convoy would take from St. Luke’s to VMMC.

Earlier, police appealed to would-be protesters not to hold their mass actions at the street fronting the government-run hospital so as not to block  her convoy.

President Benigno Aquino III had ordered Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to ensure the safety of   Mrs. Arroyo while transferring her from St. Luke’s Medical Center to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

“Be sure that former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is secured and away from harm,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda quoted the President’s marching order to the DILG chief.

Robredo said there is a "50-50" chance Arroyo will be airlifted. "We are considering all modes of transportation depending on the situation on the area," he said, adding that the government is willing to shoulder the cost of airlifting Arroyo, pegged at around P100,000.

No handcuffs

No need to handcuff  the former President during the trip from St. Luke’s  to the  VMMC, police said yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office spokesman Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said that being a former president and an incumbent Pampanga representative, Mrs. Arroyo won’t be handcuffed during her transfer.               

No handcuffs for Mrs. Arroyo is also the personal opinion of Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

The country’s lone female police general will lead the close-in security for the former president when she is transferred today, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Lina Sarmiento, the director of the Police Security and Protection Group, will head a team of policewomen who will escort  Mrs. Arroyo.

A team of policewomen will be posted outside the door of the VMMC’s presidential suite where Mrs. Arroyo will be held, Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome said.

The Task Force Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be commanded by PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Deputy Director General  Arturo Cacdac,  Jr.

Cacdac’s deputy will be PNP Director for Operations, Director Leocadio Santiago Jr. The overall security in Metro Manila will be headed by National Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Alan Purisima while the Quezon City Police District headed by Chief Supt. George Regis will secure the entries and exits of the VMMC 24-hours a day.

Police Regional Office 3 director, Chief Supt. Edgardo Ladao was also tasked to monitor the situation in Central Luzon particularly in Pampanga where loyal supporters of the former president might march to Metro Manila to air their support over Arroyo.

The use of a police chopper is also being considered during the transfer. However, it will depend on the prevailing condition. The Journal Group was told that the route to be taken by the police convoy will be declared a “no fly zone” as part of the security measures.