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Filippino marine commander relieved over coup fears
The commander of the Philippine marines was relieved of his duties Sunday in the wake of a coup plot that prompted the government to declare a state of emergency.Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda asked to be relieved of his duties for citing personal reasons, military spokesman Lt. Col. Tristan Kison said. Although the marines were widely rumored to have been involved in the coup plot against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Kison said Miranda was not implicated. He also dismissed reports of unauthorized troop movement and disgruntled troops pushing through with plans to withdraw support from Arroyo, as they had reportedly intended to do Friday. "Let us remain calm, there is no reason to panic," Kison said. Navy chief Vice Adm. Mateo Mayuga accepted Miranda's request to be relieved of his position, Kison said. He was replaced by his deputy, Brig. Gen. Nelson Aliaga, who took over in a brief ceremony in a military camp. The 8,000-strong marines are regarded as an elite, well-armed unit at the front line of the government's fight against Muslim and communist guerrillas and al-Qaida-linked militants in the country's volatile south. Arroyo set off an uproar with her emergency decree Friday as Filipinos celebrated the 20th anniversary of dictator Ferdinand Marcos' ouster in a "people power" revolt, and even some supporters questioned the move. Local and international journalists expressed alarm Sunday over a police raid of a small daily newspaper critical Arroyo. Police seized editorial materials from the offices of The Daily Tribune early Saturday and threatened to take over the paper. Police were posted at the Tribune door. National police chief Arturo Lomibao said he would recommend that police be allowed to supervise the Tribune and threatened to take steps against the paper if it contributes "to the atmosphere of uncertainty, the atmosphere of instability." Posted by: Dan Darling 2006-02-26 |
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