THE PHILIPPINES: THE AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES AND SEVERAL OTHER FOREIGNERS LEFT A BUILDING AFTER BEING HELD BY ROUGE SOLDIERS

Record ID: 645989

  • Title: THE PHILIPPINES: THE AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES AND SEVERAL OTHER FOREIGNERS LEFT A BUILDING AFTER BEING HELD BY ROUGE SOLDIERS
  • Date: 26th July 2003
  • Summary: (W1) MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES (JULY 27, 2003) (REUTERS) NIGHT SHOTS LV NIGHT VIEW OF REBEL SOLDIERS OUTSIDE THE OAKWOOD BUILDING PAN OF WIRE LEADING IN TO PILE OF BOXES AND PLASTIC BAGS BELIEVED TO CONTAIN AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE LV/SV REBEL SOLDIERS / RED ARMBAND OF REBEL SOLDIER (2 SHOTS) MCU (English) CAPTAIN TERANTES, REBEL SPOKESMAN, SAYING: "Precisely - it is so obvious we are being led by the nose, please. To hold on to power. They cannot afford a Presidency under somebody from the opposition. That is suicide for them. Physical suicide for them. Imagine the likes of (unintelligible) or Mike Arroyo (President's husband) under an (unintelligible) Presidency. Lets make this official - Armed Forces of the Philippines. We do not want to be labelled by any other name except Armed Forces of Philippines." DAY SHOTS LV/SLV PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS ON STREETS OF MANILA BUSINESS DISTRICT/ ARMED SOLDIERS CROSSING ROAD (2 SHOTS) SLV PERSONNEL CARRIERS IN BUSINESS DISTRICT SV TANK ON STREET / SOLDIERS ON TANK (2 SHOTS) SLV/SV FOREIGNERS WITH THEIR BELONGINGS LEAVING OAKWOOD HOTEL (2 SHOTS) LV REBEL SOLDIERS ON ROOF OF HOTEL SLV OF OAKWOOD HOTEL SV/SLV SOLDIERS STANDING GUARD AT GATES OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (3 SHOTS) CU SIGN WELCOMING VISITORS TO PALACE SLV SOLDIERS IN STREET
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1M3FPJZOJZNP40T0FN6PTLZOO
  • Story Text: The Australian ambassador to the Philippines and several other foreigners left a building in the heart of Manila after being held by dozens of rogue soldiers who accused the government of corruption.
    The rebel troops, who appeared to be rigging explosives at a central shopping mall in Manila on Sunday (July 27), accused the government of graft and orchestrating bombings to make them appear like attacks by Muslim or communist rebel groups.
    President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the capture of up to 70 junior officers and armed deserters on Saturday (July 26) after days of rumours about brewing anger among a group of troops about pay and the pace of internal reforms.
    "It is so obvious we are being led by the nose, please.
    To hold on to power. They cannot afford a Presidency under somebody from the opposition. That is suicide for them.
    Physical suicide for them," said a rebel spokesman who identified himself as Captain Terantes.
    Philippine military officials said the renegade soldiers had been 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.
    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".
    On Saturday (July 26) Arroyo said she had listened to "legitimate grievances" from some junior officers but that the renegade soldiers would be court-martialed.
    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.
    She is due to set out her successes and policies in a national address on Monday (July 28).
    By Saturday evening (July 26), 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 heavily guarded 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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