MANILA, 2 August 2003 — Security around President Gloria Arroyo was tightened amid fears that remnants of the mutiny plot would assassinate or kidnap her as rebellion charges were filed yesterday against 321 soldiers who mounted a failed coup attempt.
The Presidential Security Group is “on red alert” because “there are soldiers who got out with weapons like Barrett (long-range guns) and sniper rifles” during the mutiny, unit chief Col. Delfin Bangit told reporters.
These weapons “can be used for activities like (to) assassinate and kill possible targets. If the president is included in the targets, we do our best to secure our president and we also call upon the public to preserve the presidency.”
Interior Secretary Jose Lina said “the assassination has been the subject of an intelligence report” with targets including Arroyo and some other figures.
State prosecutors indicted all 321 soldiers who surrendered peacefully after a 22-hour occupation of the Makati financial district.
The government asked a lower court to deny bail to the junior officers and men accused of mounting the siege, which Manila says was part of a larger attempt to unseat Arroyo and replace her with a 15-member junta.
“After a careful evaluation of the uncontroverted evidence on record, we find and so hold that probable cause exists to warrant the indictment of respondents of the crime of coup d’etat,” said the charge sheet released by the Justice Department.
The rebels face life in prison if convicted of the charges, which were filed at a lower court in Makati. The mutineers also face separate court martial proceedings.
