MANILA, 27 July 2003 — Military men, believed to be rogue soldiers accused by the government of planning a coup attempt, occupied a shopping mall in the Philippine capital early today, police and eyewitnesses said.
A reporter on the scene said the military men, wearing red armbands, set up explosive booby traps outside department stores, hotels and condominiums in the Ayala Center shopping mall in Manila’s Makati financial district.
The heavily armed men, dressed in military fatigues, warned off passersby but refused to answer questions.
Makati police confirmed the unauthorized presence of the military men in the shopping mall but would not give further details.
Radio reports said the armed men had disarmed the sprawling shopping mall’s security guards after the guards managed to close the steel shutters of one department store facing areas where explosives had been set.
One of the men, identified as Navy Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes was heard yelling “we mean no harm, we mean no harm,” as his men set up the explosives.
“This government is pushing us to do this,” he yelled.
Another soldier, who was setting up a booby trap, warned reporters to stay away.
There was no sign that a nearby condominium and a hotel in the shopping mall were being evacuated.
President Gloria Arroyo yesterday said there had been a military plot to overthrow her government and ordered a hunt for up to 70 officers and men involved in the revolt.
Authorities have issued orders to arrest about 20 junior officers, many of them said to have led elite units and to be experts on explosives.
The officers, graduates of the elite Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and aged up to 32, were backed by “between 40-50” fully armed men.
Trillanes was among 10 of the officers who were identified as being part of the plot. Military and police personnel had earlier secured key installations, including the Congress building, military camps and television stations.
Leaders of a civic group earlier said they were told by military intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus, yesterday that the plot was meant to restore former President Joseph Estrada to power but the ultimate aim was to install Sen. Gregorio Honasan as president.
Dan Songco, a leader of the 1230 Movement, said Corpus stunned civil society groups with his revelations during an intelligence briefing held at the Villa San Miguel in the presence of Cardinal Sin.
Songco, who was also present at the second meeting said that Corpus told them to prepare because a coup was “imminent.”
Corpus’ information, according to Songco, alleged that supporters of Estrada were planning to converge at the Edsa Shrine for a march to Malaca?ang. Aside from Estrada, the plan includes two senators.
The plan involves a second coup.
“Apparently, the plan is to bring down the president to install Estrada who would be toppled after three days and Gringo (Honasan) will head the government,” Songco repeated what Corpus told the civil society leaders.
There would be an attempt to take over the House of Representatives in Quezon City during the president’s State of the Nation address.
Asked if Senator Panfilo Lacson was mentioned as among the plotters, Songco said that Lacson, according to Corpus was also involved. Corpus’ analysis, Songco said, was that Lacson was “desperate” as the Supreme Court was about to issue its decision concerning the Kuratong Baleleng case.
Estrada dismissed the coup scenario outlined by Corpus. “Are we still going to believe him? Maybe if the announcement came from someone else, it might sound more credible,” he said in Filipino.
Lacson said as much about the credibility of Corpus. Speaking through his counsel, Sigried Fortun, Lacson said, “If it is Victor Corpus giving a press briefing, I will always be part of it.” It was Corpus who exposed two years ago the alleged multi-million dollar bank accounts of Lacson in Hong Kong and North America. But to date Corpus has yet to produce evidence.
Estrada also denied the other scenario that his forces will assemble at the Edsa Shrine to lay siege on Malaca?ang. He said his supporters “have already learned that it cannot be done that way.”
Told of the on-going command center of civil society groups at the Edsa Shrine, Estrada remarked: “They are afraid of their own shadow, of what they have earlier done, which was to grab power (from me).”
“I can’t make sense out of it,” Honasan said, in reaction to Corpus’ intelligence report. “I can only surmise that this is a consequence of (my having declared to run for the presidency).”
Honasan, a former army colonel who figured in several coup attempts against the administration of former President Corazon Aquino, declared early this month that he plans to run for president in the 2004 election and offered himself as a candidate of the united opposition. Honasan said he had talked to fellow opposition senators about the allegations.
