MANILA, 2 August 2003 — Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan has gone “underground” as the government prepared to lodge rebellion charges against him, a congressman and an opposition politician said yesterday.

Former opposition Sen. Ernesto Maceda said in a radio interview that Honasan told him on Wednesday he was going into hiding. He quoted Honasan as saying, “Brother, I’m going away, please take care of my family.” Honasan could not be reached for comment Friday.

Rep. Gerry Espina, in an interview with radio DZBB, also said Maceda relayed the same information during a birthday party of socialite Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas’ at a Makati City hotel on Thursday evening.

“I asked him (Maceda) how he (was) able to know (Honasan went into hiding). He (Maceda) said: ‘Gringo told me over the phone and asked me to take care of his family,’” Espina said.

“He (Maceda) looked worried. He was serious,” Espina said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Honasan’s chief of staff confirmed that Honasan is in hiding but denied that he has gone underground.

“I have talked to Senator Honasan yesterday (Thursday), and he is just taking precautions,” said Drilon in explaining his colleague’s absence.

Honasan’s chief of staff Manny Mortero said the senator was just “keeping out of sight.” He did not elaborate. He added even the senator’s staff could not get in touch with him.

Drilon and Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III said they had no personal information on Honasan’s whereabouts.

Drilon said Honasan had called him Thursday evening to tell him he did not want a confrontation with his accusers, led by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, who were invited to the inquiry.

“There might be some misguided elements, and therefore, he has refrained from appearing in today’s (Friday’s) hearing,” Drilon said.

Lina told the Senate hearing that less than three hours after the mutineers seized the building in the Makati financial district, members of Honasan’s Philippine Guardians’ Brotherhood group attempted to join the renegade soldiers, telling police who prevented them from entering the Oakwood hotel that they wanted to bring supplies to the rebels.

He said they carried streamers saying, “Gringo is the hope of the nation.”

“Gringo Honasan is also the supreme godfather of the Philippine Guardians’ Brotherhood and the civilian component being mobilized was from the Guardians,” Lina said. “It was not only coincidence ... it was a planned, well-orchestrated coup d’etat.”

Lina said the government was preparing charges against Honasan but that the filing has been delayed. The Guardians said the rebel soldiers raised legitimate issues but denied assisting them. They said in a statement that their members gathered in Makati on the day of the siege to attend an earlier planned political rally.

Honasan’s lone appearance, since sessions resumed on July 28, was on Tuesday when he delivered a privilege speech refuting his alleged role in the revolt, which Honasan helped end peacefully after a 20-hour standoff.

Honasan’s disappearance has stoked rumors of a bigger coup plot coming.

Military officials from northern and southern Luzon were busy yesterday denying reports that their troops were headed toward Metro Manila to support the detained mutineers.

“We’ve been hearing about that news since this morning. The truth is we have not stopped any truck or bus with soldiers on them,” Cavite police provincial director Roberto Rosales told radio stations.

But at the same time, Rosales said they were verifying reports that “15 or 16 buses of soldiers” were spotted in different areas in Cavite.

Rosales clarified that the increased security in the province was due to the launching of a socio-civic program called “Gabay sa Mamamayan Action Center” that was attended by representatives from various sectors and by the “pro-government” Guardian Brotherhood Inc.

Col. Vidal Querol of the Northern Luzon Command issued a similar denial.

Querol said the “troop movements” in his area were a result of an election by the “Guardians” whose members include, among others, Honasan and former Col. Billy Bibit.

Honasan and Bibit were both part of several failed coup attempts in the ‘80s against then President Corazon Aquino.

Querol said the trucks of soldiers who were seen traveling in the area of Northern Luzon were headed toward Nueva Ecija.

Estrada Praises Mutineers

Meanwhile, ousted President Joseph Estrada praised the failed military mutiny, saying he admires the young officers for standing up for their cause, but he denied any involvement in the plot.

Estrada, who is on trial on plunder charges, also denied knowing or having met any of the rebel solders, including their detained spokesman, Navy Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes. “But I admire him. I admire Capt. Trillanes because of his cause,” Estrada told DZBB radio.

The mutineers complained of corruption and incompetence in the military.

Asked if he opposed moves to bring down President Arroyo’s government, the detained Estrada said “that thought has not crossed my mind.” But asked if he would have accepted reinstatement if the mutiny had succeeded, he said he would if he were recognized “as the legitimate president.”

Estrada insisted that Arroyo’s government is “illegitimate” and “unconstitutional” and that coup charges against the renegade soldiers were wrong.

As vice president, Arroyo succeeded Estrada after he was toppled by a military-backed “people power” uprising in January 2001. He was arrested three months later and is standing trial for plunder, a capital offense. In the same interview, Estrada deplored what he said was a scheme by the government to “plant evidence” to link his family to the failed coup. He claimed intelligence agents tried snooping around the office of his son, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, after raiding a house owned by his aide and another owned by his mistress. (Additional input from agencies)