PHILIPPINES: NEW PRESIDENT MACAPAGAL-ARROYO SAYS SHE'S YET TO ACCEPT THE UNEXPECTED RESIGNATION OF DEFENCE SECRETARY ORLANDO MERCADO
Record ID:
442968
PHILIPPINES: NEW PRESIDENT MACAPAGAL-ARROYO SAYS SHE'S YET TO ACCEPT THE UNEXPECTED RESIGNATION OF DEFENCE SECRETARY ORLANDO MERCADO
- Title: PHILIPPINES: NEW PRESIDENT MACAPAGAL-ARROYO SAYS SHE'S YET TO ACCEPT THE UNEXPECTED RESIGNATION OF DEFENCE SECRETARY ORLANDO MERCADO
- Date: 25th January 2001
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JANUARY 25, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO WITH NEW CABINET MINISTERS (3 SHOTS) 0.27 2. WIDE OF CABINET MINISTERS WAITING AT CONFERENCE HALL 0.31 3. SV'S: ARROYO WALKING INTO HALL (2 SHOTS) 0.38 4. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 0.42 5. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARROYO SAYING: (How about Secretary Mercado?) Yes, that's true. (He has resigned?) Yes, but I have not yet decided to accept his resignation. But that's true. He has filed his resignation." 0.53 6. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 0.56 7. SCU: ARROYO ON THE PHONE TO GENERAL ESPINOSA, HEAD OF PHILIPPINE MARINES (ARROYO WAS SPEAKING TO ESPINOSA TO ASK HIM ABOUT RUMOURS THAT ESPINOSA WAS PLANNING TO STAGE A COUP AGAINST ARROYO) "Beyond imagination, that's what he wants everybody to know." 1.05 8. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 1.09 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th February 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Reuters ID: LVAAO984HJXKRXYYT7INSXE949TV
- Story Text: Philippine defence secretary Orlando Mercado has
resigned unexpectedly although new President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo says she has so far not accepted his
resignation.
Arroyo confirmed Mercado's resignation during her first
news conference at the Malacanang presidential palace on
Thursday (January 25).
"Yes, that's true. (He has resigned?) Yes, but I have
not yet decided to accept his resignation. But that's true. He
has filed his resignation."
In a letter, Mercado said he was resigning because he
was against the appointment of retired General Lisandro Abadia
as national security adviser. But he reiterated his support
for Arroyo's government, and confirmed that he plans to run
for the Senate in the coming May elections.
Mercado played a key role in the popular uprising
against former President Joseph Estrada, withdrawing his
support, along with military chief General Angelo Reyes, from
the government.
In the middle of the news conference, Arroyo spoke to a
high-ranking military official on the phone, in response to a
question about the military plotting a coup.
"Beyond imagination, that's what he wants everybody
to know," Arroyo said to journalists passing General
Espinosa's response to her question if he was planning a coup
against her.
Arroyo assumed the presidency after the Supreme Court
declared the presidency vacant.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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