PHILIPPINES: Philippine military tensions recede, President Arroyo steps up purge of suspected plotters

Record ID: 577922

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Philippine military tensions recede, President Arroyo steps up purge of suspected plotters
  • Date: 28th February 2006
  • Summary: BLACK CAR WITH FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA'S WIFE ARRIVING AT HOSPITAL FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA'S WIFE ARRIVING AT HOSPITAL
  • Embargoed: 15th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8TLXQ9CWHAO7G90Z4RMFBOBFM
  • Story Text: Tensions within the Philippine military over a foiled coup receded on Monday (February 27) but problems loomed on a new front for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as lawyers prepared to challenge her emergency rule in court.
    Schools were closed for the day in Manila, but it was otherwise business as usual in the capital and the financial markets were calmer after being spooked on Friday (February 24) by the crisis.
    The peso was up 0.35 percent at 52.02 to the dollar by 0830 GMT and the main stock index was 0.95 percent higher. Both had tumbled one percent on Friday .
    "Today our government will triple its work to keep its momentum and evade any economic fall out," said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a televisied address which sought to calm tensions.
    Dozens of Marines briefly defied the state of emergency on Sunday (February 26), calling for public support after the elite force's commander was removed for links with the plan to topple Arroyo.
    But they returned to their barracks peacefully after staging a show of support for their sacked chief -- in full battle gear and with armoured personnel carriers -- at their base in Manila.
    Arroyo, who survived an impeachment attempt last year over allegations of election cheating and corruption, invoked the emergency on Friday to confront what she said was a conspiracy by political enemies, communists and "military adventurists".
    She has given no indication on when the emergency rule would be lifted.
    An inquiry into suspected coup plotters went underway on Monday.
    On 21 February, one of the escaped soldiers, Lieutenant Lawrence San Juan, was arrested. The prosecution accused him of plotting with two NPA figures in a communist safehouse in Batangas province.
    Leftist congressman Crispin Beltran and former police chief Ramon Montano were taken in for questioning on Saturday (February 25).
    Critics say her move, which allows for arrests without warrant and an extension of detention without charge, smacks of the martial law days of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was toppled in a "people power" uprising 20 years ago.
    "I call on the Arroyo regime to lift the declaration of national emergency and to heed the call of the people to step down. Give back the power to the Filipino people," said J.B. Ejercido, son of former president Joseph Estrada.
    A lawyers' group said it would file a petition with the Supreme Court on Monday for a temporary restraining order on the national emergency, arguing that it was unconstitutional as a purge of leftists and soldiers suspected of plotting to topple Arroyo went into high gear as police filed charges against 16 people. Three of the people have been arrested.
    The Philippines, Washington's closest security partner in Southeast Asia, is closely watched by investors as Asia's most active issuer of sovereign debt after Japan.
    Despite pushing reforms to improve revenues, cut debt and curb rampant corruption, Arroyo has been unable to escape the turmoil of a fractious military and political system.
    Although tensions seemed to be on the wane, political pundits and investors were unsure of what was to come.
    "Index is down though but not that great. It's down less than 10 points at this point and the volume is thin so basically it could be a wait and see attitude prevailing right now," said Alejandro Yu, Director-Treasurer of the Philippines Stock Exchange.
    The Philippine armed forces, riddled with graft and low on morale in their battle against communist and Muslim insurgencies, spawned at least a dozen coup attempts since the overthrow of Marcos in a "people power" uprising in 1986.
    Arroyo said the government was working to increase the salaries and subsistence allowances of soldiers.

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