Sources disclosed most of those to be picked up are former politicians who were directly involved in hatching the takeover attempt after the military ordered the arrest of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim yesterday.
"Over 100 persons are on the list of the Philippine National Police (PNP) while... over 100 are on the list of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)," a ranking security official disclosed, without saying if there were any overlapping names.
"They (the coup plotters) are politicians and ex-politicians," he said.
The official, however, did not say if there were other police and military officers on the supposed list even as Lim and another alleged coup plotter, Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., chief of the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF), were ordered relieved.
AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga ordered the relief of Lim, commander of the Army’s elite 1st Scout Ranger Regiment based in San Miguel, Bulacan, for his involvement in the latest power grab.
Lim had allegedly openly declared his withdrawal of support from Mrs. Arroyo and urged his men to join in the struggle to oust her.
The military said they had lined up for questioning some military officers, including retired generals.
The PNP, for its part, would carry out the arrest to be effected by operatives from Quezon City Police District (QCPD), the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the police Intelligence Group.
"We have a list and this has been validated and will soon be announced," PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said.
Lomibao refused, however, to identify the people involved, saying this would be announced shortly following the President’s declaration of Proclamation 1017 placing the country under a state of national emergency.
"It (the list) has long (been) in existence. We have a list and this has been validated and we will soon announce it," Lomibao said.
Gonzalez said Honasan and Montayre’s names were among those identified as part of the "civilian component" of the foiled coup attempt.
Honasan, a former Army colonel who led past coup plots against former President Corazon Aquino in the 1980s, earlier denied allegations linking him to the reported plot against Mrs. Arroyo.
Aside from Honasan and Montayre, the government is also monitoring the movements of People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAP) leader Ronald Lumbao.
Lumbao led the PMAP in the violent May 1, 2001 riots outside Malacañang Palace which also prompted Mrs. Arroyo to declare a state of national emergency.
"There (are) no plans yet being made for the arrest of Lumbao. But the response of the government will be calibrated," Gonzalez said.
He said Council of Philippine Affairs (COPA) organizer Pastor "Boy" Saycon, who had a falling out with Mrs. Arroyo, and media practitioners were not included in the arrest list.
Among those who were already arrested were a professor, a militant group leader, a lawyer and 20 others.
University of the Philippines professor Randy David was among those arrested while leading a group of rallyists marching to the EDSA Shrine yesterday.
David, who was on his way to negotiate with the police, was suddenly picked up by plainclothes policemen and herded into a green Toyota sedan with license plates WJU-141.
Citizens’ Action Party (Akbayan) president Ronald Llamas and militant lawyer Argee Gueverra were also arrested along with David.
They were all brought to QCPD headquarters at Camp Karangal.
Police said the three were merely invited "for questioning."
Almost simultaneous with the arrest of the three, members of the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) team dispersed some 10,000 protesters inside Quezon City Memorial Circle.
Around 2,000 anti-riot policemen initially confronted the demonstrators by hosing them down to force them back.
A scuffle ensued leaving 50 rallyists wounded and 20 others arrested.
Gonzalez pointed out the state of national emergency declared by Mrs. Arroyo had an "open-ended" timeframe.
Lomibao added the declaration of state of emergency was a consensus decision reached in consultation with Mrs. Arroyo’s Cabinet in an overnight meeting.
He justified the declaration, saying it was meant to prevent anarchy on the streets.
"Well, the way I understood it, a state of emergency is declared to preserve and protect democratic rights, public safety, public order," Lomibao said.
"The reason why state of emergency was declared (is) we want the public to be safe from all of these attempted coups as found by the (AFP) chief of staff. We want normalcy to return as soon as possible," he added.
Lomibao said a state of national emergency would also "prevent soldiers or policemen, if ever, from going against the government or breaking away from the chain of command because if that happens there’s going to be chaos."
With the declaration of state of national emergency, National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Vidal Querol said all rally permits in Metro Manila are now revoked.
Lomibao also ordered the suspension of all permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) issued by the PNP, even to legitimate firearm holders.
He said the suspension would help ensure peace and order and prevent chaos on the streets.
Lomibao also ordered all 17 police regional officers in the country to set up checkpoints in strategic locations to strictly implement the firearms ban.
PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said all applications for PTCFOR would be held in abeyance.
"The right to bear arms is a mere statutory privilege and not a constitutional right. Its cancellation constitutes a reasonable exercise of police power," Pagdilao explained. — With Jose Rodel Clapano, Katherine Adraneda, Non Alquitran