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| Southeast Asia |
| Fresh 4-phase coup plot uncovered in the Philippines |
| 2006-02-17 |
| The Philippine government and armed forces said they were containing a plot to overthrow and perhaps even kill President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by fugitive mutineers backed by retired officers and opposition figures. "Everything is under control," Lieutenant Colonel Tristan Kison, the armed forces spokesman, said on radio on Friday. He said extra security was in place and the justice department was investigating the masterminds but troops were on normal alert. "We discovered that there are some who are recruiting, but I cannot tell you who they are," Kison said. "Knowing and proving are different things." Last year, Arroyo survived a political crisis, including an impeachment attempt, over allegations of vote-rigging and corruption. Police in Manila went on heightened but not maximum alert on Friday over reports of large anti-Arroyo protests planned for February 24, the day before the country marks the 20th anniversary of the "people power" revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos. "Monitor well and be ready for any contingency," said the capital's police chief, Vidal Querol. Opponents suspect Arroyo's government of amplifying threats to ward off plotters and seek sympathy. Fresh talk of a plot by some elements of the military has been growing since the escape from an army camp in January of four alleged leaders of a bloodless, one-day mutiny in 2003. Quoting two senior generals, Reuters reported details of the plot on Thursday, including a mass escape of mutineers originally set for January, taking hostages at a gathering of military commanders, occupying army camps and removing Arroyo. Intelligence officials said a politician identified with the opposition was offering up to 500 million pesos ($9.7 million) to oust Arroyo, an economist whose term is due to run until 2010. The two generals said two politicians, one with a military background, and several retired officers had been identified as the masterminds of the four-phase plot. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the rogue troops planned to assassinate him and Arroyo. "The president is aware of this. They mentioned two names in their plot," he said on Thursday. "It's me and the president." He said a document with details of the plot had been found in the locker of one of 27 mutiny leaders still in detention. "They were supposed to carry out a mass jail break on either January 20 or 21," he said, adding that the plan was to have culminated this month or in March, when the president was due to address graduates of the Philippine Military Academy. Arroyo, who is also commander-in-chief, is to skip this weekend's annual reunion of the academy, one of the alleged targets of the plot. Arroyo called generals to a security briefing on Thursday, a day after six armored vehicles beefed up defences at the presidential palace. On Thursday, one of the four escaped mutiny leaders called on Filipinos to wear red bands on their left arms to protest against "the fake government of Macapagal Arroyo." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |