Philippines lifts state of rebellion

MANILA: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday lifted the state of rebellion declared after a military mutiny two weeks ago, saying the threat of another coup attempt had eased.

The declaration had allowed police to make arrests without warrants.

"I'm lifting the state of rebellion," Arroyo said. She added that it was time to deal with other pressing issues. "The threat has abated."

Arroyo announced the lifting during a ceremony attended by soldiers at the presidential palace, drawing loud applause from the crowd. A military official then provided details of the coup plot, which he said included a plan to kill Arroyo and set up a 15-man junta.

Senate President Franklin Drilon welcomed Arroyo's decision, saying it would assure the local and international business communities that the political and security situation has indeed returned to normal.

The national police said they would remain on 24-hour alert nationwide because of other threats, including possible bombings similar to last week's bomb attack that killed 11 people in Jakarta's business district.

An anti-coup force also would remain in the capital as a precaution despite the easing of threats, the military said.

Already indicted on coup charges are 321 young officers and soldiers who took over a ritzy apartment building and mall in the heart of Manila's financial district on July 27, rigging the area with bombs. A 19-hour stand-off ended peacefully.

Also charged are a mistress of ex-president Joseph Estrada, a former Estrada cabinet minister and opposition senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan. All have denied involvement. Honasan has gone into hiding.

Shortly after Arroyo's announcement, Lieutenant General Rodolfo Garcia, the military's vice-chief of staff, revealed details of the doomed power grab during a nationally televised news conference.

Garcia said the takeover of the Oakwood luxury apartment building and an adjoining mall was part of a wider plot to oust Arroyo and instal a 15-member junta. The mutineers had planned to capture private television and radio networks, but the presence of government troops prevented them.

The mutineers also planned to take control of the presidential palace, military, army and police headquarters, two major highways to the capital, communications and logistical centres and Manila's airports to bring in troops from the provinces, Garcia said.

After the mutiny fizzled, Garcia said officials discovered 10 computer discs that the rebel soldiers tried to destroy, but computer experts were able to reconstruct the contents of seven that contained details of the coup plot.