PHILIPPINES: AROUND 15 RENEGADE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS WHO SEIZED CONTROL OF AN OFFICE BLOCK IN CENTRAL MANILA SURRENDER BEFORE DEADLINE

Record ID: 646002

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: AROUND 15 RENEGADE PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS WHO SEIZED CONTROL OF AN OFFICE BLOCK IN CENTRAL MANILA SURRENDER BEFORE DEADLINE
  • Date: 26th July 2003
  • Summary: (W1) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JULY 27, 2003) (REUTERS) NIGHT VIEW 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 SHOTS) MCU (English) REBEL SPOKESMAN CAPTAIN TERANTES 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. Let's 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 PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS ON STREETS OF MANILA BUSINESS DISTRICT/ ARMED SOLDIERS CROSSING ROAD (2 SHOTS) LV PERSONNEL CARRIERS IN BUSINESS DISTRICT SV TANK ON STREET/ SOLDIERS ON TANK (2 SHOTS) LV OF REBEL SOLDIERS ON ROOF OF HOTEL LV OF OAKWOOD HOTEL SV /PAN SOLDIERS STANDING GUARD AT GATES OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (3 SHOTS) CU SIGN WELCOMING VISITORS TO PALACE SLV SOLDIERS AT PALACE
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANILA AND UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4NS0L659Q6DLYI3O7BVCZX608
  • Story Text: THIS IS THE SAME EDIT AS 10903/03

    About 15 renegade Philippine soldiers who had seized control of an office block in central Manila gave themselves up about two hours before President Gloria Arroyo's 5 p.m.

    (0900 GMT) deadline to surrender but about 150 others -- mostly junior officers below the rank of captain or enlisted men -- were still inside the Glorietta shopping centre.
    About 15 of the mutineers gave themselves up on Sunday (July 27) about two hours before the 5 p.m. (0900 GMT) deadline but about 150 others -- mostly junior officers below the rank of captain or enlisted men -- were still inside the Glorietta shopping centre.
    Tanks, armoured vehicles and hundreds of Philippines troops encircled the presitigious shopping centre as the deadline approached for renegade soldiers holed up inside to surrender.
    The mutineers seized the complex late on Saturday (July 27) and wired it with explosives, leaving Australia's ambassador and several other foreigners briefly trapped in adjoining residences.
    The deadline was delivered on Sunday (July 27) in a speech given by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal 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.
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