the philippine government has declared a five-hour curfew beginning at 12 am of november 30, 2007 until 5 am of the same day after the failed manila peninsula (makati city) siege lead by senator antonio trillanes iv and brig. general danilo lim, both headliners of another failed coup attempt in 2003 (oakwood mutiny).

according to dilg secretary ronaldo puno, pnp check points will be set up in different parts of metro manila, regions 3 (central luzon) and 4 (southern luzon). people who will be out in the streets on the said hours will be questioned for the legitimacy of their trips.

it is important to observe the following:

1. bring your identification cards and other documents pertaining to your identities

2. state a legitimate reason for being out during the curfew

3. don't carry firearms or other deadly weapons (although licensed) outside of your homes

this is just temporary, puno assured. but if there will be suspicious movements or significant actions connected to the makati siege, they will reimpose the curfew.

there is no suspension of rights and this is definitely not martial law, according to the government.

some people are complaining that the government is over-reacting to the situation. they could have just set up checkpoints but not impose a curfew. they could have avoided ramming the doors and the lobby of the manila pen with the apv's. they could have avoided gassing up the people inside the hotel.

but, according to the authorities,  if these measures weren't undertaken, the crisis won't end tonight and bloodshed would surely follow.

it's a good thing also that  trillanes finally gave in. maybe, it's because he realized also that they weren't able to generate that much support from the people. or maybe, this is really a case of a badly-executed plan.