Auro de Moura Andrade, President of the Senate, had requested General Fico to defend Congress. Fico agreed, then proceeded to ignore the request.

The BGP's column reached the river at 12:00. It had quite an impact for the leadership in Minas Gerais, who feared an invasion. By their sources it was made of 3 tanks, 11 buses and 600 men and sighted by air at night on the 31st. The size and date are inconsistent with the BGP's sources.
In response Lt Col Georgino's 10th Police Battalion was rushed to Paracatu in what has been described as a "drive worthy of a Rommel". It was on the road in the morning. Once in Paracatu, Georgino realized he was outgunned and entrenched in the town center. (This meant the opposing forces did not meet as the BGP was 40 km away in the river) This gave him a defensive advantage and endangered the locals; that was the point. With two visibly armed officers he informed the town hall on the result of a battle: "Paracatu would be destroyed"; "the blood of civilians would serve to rally Brazil against the communist bandits"; "those who opposed this glory would, too, be understood as communist bandits". The civilians went to the BGP to plead them not to attack.

Meanwhile at noon a motorized company of the 16th Caçadores Battalion, from Cuiabá, was already at the border with Goiás. It'd been sent by Col Meira Mattos in the previous day. Mato Grosso's capital received a reinforcement by the 2nd Border Battalion. According to Meira Mattos his drive would be backed by the 4th Cavalry Division from Campo Grande, but they didn't because of haste and confusion. Sources from Campo Grande say they didn't move to not waste money, and were also ready to reinforce São Paulo by rail if called.
By Goulart's landing Meira Mattos had requisitioned the 3 aircraft in the airport and airlifted another company to Jataí.

The President found himself as unsafe as in Rio. Allegedly (this is only in the Oral History of the Army and nowhere else) he even found his own bodyguard platoon were phoning the BGP to discuss his arrest. The BGP's 3rd Company even prepared to move but General Fico showed up to talk about how they should obey the government as, after all, they got paid extra to serve in Brasília.
The garrison was a mess with contradicting orders flying around. The Army Police company, with a legalist commander, and a company of the BGP were in mutual alert. At night Raimundo had to dissuade General Chaves, of the 10th Military Region, who wanted to grab the BGP and usurp Fico's command. And meanwhile the coupists were closing in from the west. It's mentioned Goulart knew at least of the company in Jataí. But in addition Meira Mattos removed the only obstacle on his path, the legalist in charge of the 10th Caçadores Battalion in Goiânia, by flying there and enlisting the support of the Goiás police.

Goulart conferenced. Some suggested he'd fight out from the Brasília, with the symbolic value of holding the capital. Fico insisted on his loyalty, and it was necessary for one thing - without the Army's protection, fear of the mob would keep Congress from attempting an impeachment or other maneuver. However the 11th Military Region's resources were too meager to resist. At 16:00 Goulart informed Porto Alegre that it'd be his next destination. He took off after 22:00.
The 4th Company of the BGP retreated after 21:00. There's no mention of their reaction to the civilian pleas, only that they wouldn't resist after Âncora's surrender. Whether they'd even fight is unknown. Maj Henning's allegiance is a mystery. His men had left with the intent to defect but in the field were a bit clueless.