Philippine security forces said

[Bruce and Han 0]

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine security forces said they foiled a coup attempt against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo which was set to start during anti-government protests on Friday, and had detained the commander of an elite regiment.

"We believe that we have quashed a coup," Lieutenant-General Hermogenes Esperon, the army chief, said in a interview on an early morning television news programme.

Rumours of plots against Arroyo, who survived a crisis last year over allegations of vote-rigging and corruption, have been running high around this week's anniversary of a "people power" revolt that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Before Friday's announcement, the army had said last week it had uncovered a scheme called "Oplan Hackle" that would have involved a mass escape of officers on trial over failed mutiny in 2003, the ouster of Arroyo and the creation of a military junta.

The armed forces chief, General Generoso Senga, said the commander of the Scout Rangers regiment was being held as an alleged leader of armed troops who planned to join protests against Arroyo by her political foes and former allies on Friday.

An army statement said two other commanders of elite units were being investigated.

Esperon said the rogue troops planned to announce to the crowd of protesters that they were withdrawing support from the president, and were hoping that this would bring a groundswell of opposition to Arroyo.

Senior generals met during the night to assess the threat and confront the alleged plotters, Esperon said on radio.

"Through timely reaction and dialogue, they decided not to carry out their plan to join the rallies," he said.

Arroyo was expected to make a statement to the nation on Friday morning, her officials said.

There have been a dozen coup attempts in the Philippines in the last 20 years but some analysts suspect Arroyo's government of playing up security threats to ward off would-be plotters and gain public sympathy.

Police canceled permits for several rallies on Friday and school classes were suspended after the military said it had foiled the plot. Security had been beefed up before dawn at the presidential palace and at army and police camps in Manila.

Arroyo called off a planned trip to the central Philippines.

On Thursday, military officials linked former army colonel and opposition senator Gregorio Honasan, hailed as a hero in the uprising against Marcos, to the Oplan Hackle plot to unseat Arroyo.

Army officials said he was recruiting junior officers to take part in the plan. Honasan denied the allegations.

[Jasman0717 9]

[Satisfaction 1]

Is President Arroyo the daughter of the late opponent of Marcos, who got shot after he landed in Manilla?

Is political assassination in fashion over there? Politics in the Philippines, such a difficult subject indeed.

[Peter Miami 0]

wow!

[almaty 19]

i have heard President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is working hard on having total control of the island and making the PIs into a one part, in practice, country..similar to mexico and the PRI, in their past..true?? false??

[eau_xplain 2]

Is President Arroyo the daughter of the late opponent of Marcos, who got shot after he landed in Manilla?

Is political assassination in fashion over there? Politics in the Philippines, such a difficult subject indeed.

No. President Arroyo is the daughter of former president Diosdado P. Macapagal who was the 5th president of the Philippines.

The late Marcos opponent you are thinking of is Benigno Aquino, Sr. It was his widow, Corazon Aquino who subsequently became president when Marco fled the country.

i have heard President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is working hard on having total control of the island and making the PIs into a one part, in practice, country..similar to mexico and the PRI, in their past..true?? false??

Dean, I'm sorry I'm a bit confused by what you are saying here. Can you please expound further?

[almaty 19]

Is President Arroyo the daughter of the late opponent of Marcos, who got shot after he landed in Manilla?

Is political assassination in fashion over there? Politics in the Philippines, such a difficult subject indeed.

No. President Arroyo is the daughter of former president Diosdado P. Macapagal who was the 5th president of the Philippines.

The late Marcos opponent you are thinking of is Benigno Aquino, Sr. It was his widow, Corazon Aquino who subsequently became president when Marco fled the country.

i have heard President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is working hard on having total control of the island and making the PIs into a one part, in practice, country..similar to mexico and the PRI, in their past..true?? false??

Dean, I'm sorry I'm a bit confused by what you are saying here. Can you please expound further?

sorry, that President Arroya is pulling a Putin, of russia, that is, trying to make it difficult for the opposition..similar to the PRI party in mexcio...

[eau_xplain 2]

Governance in the Philippines is really difficult. Everybody thinks they're the only ones with the answer/solution to the problems plaguing the country. Healthy opposition is good, but when it gets down to the level of what we call the 'crab mentality' (pulling down whoever is on top just because they are on top), then nothing productive can be done. All the political posturings and grandstanding only results in the continued economic downspiral of the country. And who suffers the most? Not the politicians ... the poor.

Pres. Arroyo will have a hard time pulling a Putin as it will be very difficult to do that without anyone raising the spectre of martial rule. Maybe martial rule is the only way a president can take real control of (and maybe finally do something good for?) the Philippines. But after having had over 20 years of that, I don't think it will get much support from the Filipino people and the Philippines' allies.

[john_and_marlene 162]

Governance in the Philippines is really difficult. Everybody thinks they're the only ones with the answer/solution to the problems plaguing the country. Healthy opposition is good, but when it gets down to the level of what we call the 'crab mentality' (pulling down whoever is on top just because they are on top), then nothing productive can be done. All the political posturings and grandstanding only results in the continued economic downspiral of the country. And who suffers the most? Not the politicians ... the poor.

Pres. Arroyo will have a hard time pulling a Putin as it will be very difficult to do that without anyone raising the spectre of martial rule. Maybe martial rule is the only way a president can take real control of (and maybe finally do something good for?) the Philippines. But after having had over 20 years of that, I don't think it will get much support from the Filipino people and the Philippines' allies.

They aren't calling it Martial Law, but rather a declared state of emergency. And, Arroyo did it today. All protests are now banned and they can now arrest without warrant and they have warned the media that they can be taken over by the government if they are viewed as destabilizing. I see shades of Marcos returning and it isn't good.

This sure isn't a step toward a stable democracy.

Edited February 24, 2006 by john_and_marlene

[I'm Gone 60]

They aren't calling it Martial Law, but rather a declared state of emergency. And, Arroyo did it today. All protests are now banned and they can now arrest without warrant and they have warned the media that they can be taken over by the government if they are viewed as destabilizing.

Bush must be jealous. LOL

[almaty 19]

They aren't calling it Martial Law, but rather a declared state of emergency. And, Arroyo did it today. All protests are now banned and they can now arrest without warrant and they have warned the media that they can be taken over by the government if they are viewed as destabilizing.

Bush must be jealous. LOL

[Mirorgate 0]

All the political posturings and grandstanding only results in the continued economic downspiral of the country. And who suffers the most? Not the politicians

Hmmmm.... so its the same here as over there then?

Maybe I should take over a carribean Island and declare my own country. Cardinal Rule.... no foreign politicians allowed.. bad for economy!