MANILA, 30 July 2003 — A top aide of deposed Philippine President Joseph Estrada was indicted for his role in the weekend mutiny and a group of junior military officers who led the failed rebellion were arrested yesterday. President Gloria Arroyo moved swiftly to consolidate control two days after the rebellion collapsed, rallying the top brass and creating a commission to look into its root causes.
“The resort to destabilization can only be the handiwork of the most desperate groups that have completely lost their moral compass,” Arroyo said in her first meeting with the armed forces leaders since the mutiny.
Court martial proceedings were being prepared against the officers, military spokesman Col. Daniel Lucero said.
Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes described the government move as treachery in an interview aired on radio shortly before military intelligence officers took him into custody. “They have reneged on their part of the bargain,” he said.
Defense officials yesterday displayed expensive communications equipment as well as documents captured from the mutineers indicating their scheme was wider than they claimed.
Sen. Honasan yesterday rejected government allegations he was behind the mutiny, while insisting that the rebels’ concerns were legitimate.
