PHILIPPINES: ROUGE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS HOLD THE AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR AND TWO AMERICANS IN MANILA'S FINANCIAL AND DIPLOMATIC QUARTER

Record ID: 645983

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: ROUGE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS HOLD THE AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR AND TWO AMERICANS IN MANILA'S FINANCIAL AND DIPLOMATIC QUARTER
  • Date: 26th July 2003
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JULY 26, 2003) (REUTERS) LV STREET SCENE LV/SLV REBEL SOLDIERS APPARENTLY LAYING EXPLOSIVES (2 SHOTS) SLV/SV REBEL SOLDIERS WALKING (2 SHOTS) CU OF MACHINE GUNS HELD BY REBELS AS THEY WALK SLV REBELS MOVING RUBBISH BINS SLV REBELS CHECKING TAXI SLV/SV/CU PEOPLE SINGING WHILE HOLDING LIGHTED CANDLES (3 SHOTS) MCU (English) BROTHER ARMIN LUISTRO, CIVILIAN ORGANISER FOR PEACE, SAYING: "While we sympathise with the legitimate grievances and desire for reforms being envoked by some elements in the military, we emphatically point out to them that violence will not solve their problems, but will only exacerbate them. These young officers should realise that their adventurism can only lead to more misery by casting doubt on our country's political stability." SLV PRIEST SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANILA AND UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7HHA6ASA41KXMOIGLD3G1TUUN
  • Story Text: Rogue Philippine soldiers have been holding the Australian ambassador and two Americans in Manila's financial and diplomatic quarter, but denied they were staging a coup as they accused the government of corruption.
    The move on Sunday (July 26) came just one day after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the capture of up to 70 junior officers and armed deserters following days of rumours about brewing anger among a group of troops about pay and the pace of internal reforms.
    One unidentified soldier said the rebel troops, who appeared to be rigging explosives at a central shopping mall, accused the Arroyo administration of graft and orchestrating bombings to make them appear like attacks by Muslim or communist rebel groups.
    Philippine military officials said the renegade soldiers were holding Ruth Pearce, Australia's ambassador to the Philippines, and four members of the Australian Federal Police in a building at the Glorietta shopping complex in the heart of the capital.
    Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes later said two Americans were also being held.
    The Oakwood building -- the scene of the siege -- houses luxury apartments, offices and the Manila operation of U.S.
    television network CNN. The tower block is in the midst of a sprawling complex of shops, restaurants and hotels.
    Jose Lina, secretary of the Interior and Local Government Department, said the allegations of staged bombings to justify an Arroyo move towards martial law were "black propaganda".
    Armed Forces Chief of Staff Narciso Abaya expressed the military's support for Arroyo and said 20 army and navy officers and 40 to 50 servicemen were engaging in an "unconstitutional adventurist exercise".
    Arroyo, who is due to set out her successes and policies in a national address on Monday (July 28), said on Saturday (July 26) she had listened to "legitimate grievances" from some junior officers but that the renegade soldiers would be court martialled.
    Television commentators talked of retired generals occupying prime army housing and low-ranking soldiers risking their lives for as little as 4,000 pesos ($74) a month.
    Security analysts see scant support for a coup among senior officers or the public.
    The 113,000-strong military has no official role in the democratic process but has helped oust or ordain several leaders, from Ferdinand Marcos to Arroyo's rise from vice president in 2001 as a popular revolt drove out Joseph Estrada.
    Arroyo has faced coup rumours in the past over questions about her legitimacy as leader and graft in her government.
    By Saturday evening, the gates of Camp Aguinaldo, the main military facility in Manila, were blocked by troops and trucks.
    Security was also tight at Camp Crame, the headquarters of the national police, but there were no unusual troop movements around the presidential palace.
    Security forces were already on red alert for attacks by Muslim or communist rebels around Arroyo's speech, which has only fed into the usual swirl of rumours and text messages.
    The Philippines was under martial law for nearly two decades during the Marcos era, but the army turned against the dictator in a popular uprising in 1986 and has tried to shake off allegations of rights abuses and corruption.
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