There was no published manifesto yet. Outside the state nobody knew for sure what was going on, only a storm of rumors of rebellion. Quite importantly, while its regiments did not reach the border (excluding the single vanguard company) the policy was denial and obfuscation. When called, the activities were described as "preventative measures, to prevent agitation"; the occupation of gas stations was only "to control the exit of fuel and not hamper the state's supply". Mourão Filho was phoned in the late morning on what was going on, and in his words cynically denied there was anything out of the ordinary.