PHILIPPINES: PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO GIVES RENEGADE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS A DEADLINE TO SURRENDER
Record ID:
646000
PHILIPPINES: PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO GIVES RENEGADE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS A DEADLINE TO SURRENDER
- Title: PHILIPPINES: PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO GIVES RENEGADE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS A DEADLINE TO SURRENDER
- Date: 26th July 2003
- Summary: (W1) MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES (JULY 27, 2003) (REUTERS) NIGHT VIEWS LV 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 SHTOS) 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) 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 OF SOLDIERS AT PALACE
- Embargoed: 10th August 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MANILA AND UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA81D3D5J05BTTDC961BIIB1EAP
- Story Text: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has given renegade
Philippine soldiers until dusk on Sunday to surrender after
they briefly trapped Australia's ambassador and other
foreigners inside a shopping and apartment complex.
The deadline was delivered on Sunday (July 27) in a
speech given by Arroyo after the rogue soldiers wired the
Oakwood building near Manila's financial district with
explosives. The group, however, denied they were staging a
coup accused the government of planning to declare martial law
to stay in office beyond next May's scheduled election.
As dawn broke over the capital of 10 million people,
armoured personnel carriers and army trucks blocked off major
roads in the central business district but there were no signs
of panic as crowds of the curious gathered.
The rogue troops, wearing red armbands, displayed a red
flag similar to the one used by nationalist General Emilio
Aguinaldo in a revolt against Spanish colonial forces in 1896.
The Oakwood building is near the stock exchange, banks,
shops, major hotels and residential compounds. It also houses
the CNN office in the city.
Australian Ambassador Ruth Pearce was among the foreigners
held at the complex during the siege, but those held were
released within hours.
Philippine Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes said two
Americans had also been inside. The United States expressed
its full support for the "legitimate civilian government of
President Arroyo" but could not confirm the presence of
Americans.
A statement by the soldiers accused the government of
selling weapons to Muslim and communist rebel groups and of
orchestrating bombings to make them appear like guerrilla
attacks.
"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," said a
spokesman for the rebels who gave his name as Captain
Terantes.
Arroyo, who has the support of the military command,
ordered a manhunt on Saturday (July 26) for up to 70 junior
officers and deserters after days of rumours of a coup plot by
a small group of soldiers disgruntled about pay and the pace
of internal reforms.
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.
In a televised address, Arroyo said the actions were
unacceptable and urged the rebels to put down their arms.
"I am duty bound under the same oath as you took to uphold
the constitution at all times. For this reason I am giving you
up to five o'clock this afternoon to stand down, surrender
down you weapons and return to barracks. After this deadline
the Chief of Staff is authorised to use reasonable force to
dislodge your group quickly and efficiently and arrest you. I
urge you in the interest of those who still believe in your
cause to make the right decision now," she said.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Narciso Abaya had been
authorised to use "reasonable force" if the renegades did not
surrender and return to barracks by 5 p.m. (0900 GMT), she
said.
The 113,000-strong Philippine military has no official
role in the democratic process but has traditionally played a
major role in who holds power.
The Philippines was under martial law for years during the
two-decade rule of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, but the army
turned against him in a popular uprising in 1986 and has tried
to shake off allegations of rights abuses and corruption.
The military played a key role in 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.
Arroyo, who is due to deliver her annual state of the
nation address on Monday (July 28), has repeatedly maintained
she will not run for office next year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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