MANILA/ZAMBOANGA CITY, 4 September 2003 — Officials yesterday reported alleged attempts by unnamed groups to bribe disgruntled military officers into joining a new coup attempt, but President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said they would fail from lack of support.

The rumor mill, fed by mobile phone text messages, has been running hot, with apparently unfounded reports of a mass resignation of senior military commanders, unusual troop movements in Manila, a group of generals planning to demand Arroyo’s resignation and Vice President Teofisto Guingona quitting.

Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said the “threat of destabilization” dominated a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

“Ongoing intelligence operations have uncovered further efforts to destabilize the country, the Cabinet was told,” he said, without elaborating.

Addressing civil servants shortly after returning from a brief trip to Brunei, Arroyo reported “attempts to buy loyalty in the military.”

“These destabilization plans are futile and these will fail as they have failed in the past because of you,” she said. “Moreover this attempt will fail because they will be rejected by the soldiers as well as by the people. ... The entire chain of command is behind us.”

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez linked the insurgents to unnamed civilian conspirators in a failed military mutiny July 27.

“They have failed so far in renewing their recruitment in the military,” he told reporters. Golez warned that the government is “prepared to take firm action” against the opposition in case of constitutional violations.

He did not specify who was behind the destabilization moves but said “they have failed so far in renewing the recruitment in the military.”

More than 300 soldiers were arrested after they occupied part of Manila’s financial district of Makati as part of what the government describes as a larger plot to assassinate Arroyo and replace her with a 15-member military junta.

Arroyo has also asked state prosecutors to charge opposition Sen. Gregorio Honasan for masterminding the rebellion as well as certain members of the family of deposed president Joseph Estrada for allegedly providing material support.

Estrada is detained and on trial for corruption after being toppled in a military-backed popular revolt that swept Arroyo, the elected vice president, to power in January 2001.

About 5,000 people, led by Arroyo’s son, gathered at EDSA Shrine in Manila to support her administration, carrying placards and banners saying “No to coup d’etat, yes to democracy” and “No to mutiny, yes to unity.”

“This is a gathering for peace in the country,” said Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, vice governor of Pampanga province, north of Manila.

Military chief of staff Gen. Narciso Abaya denied the rumor that five top generals resigned and warned that anyone spreading such tales would be regarded as a “threat group out to undermine the government and duly-constituted authority.”

He said the rumors were part of an effort “to sow intrigue, undermine the cohesiveness of the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and create dissension within our ranks.”

“I call on all our soldiers to close ranks, adhere to the chain of command and not to entertain these unfounded rumors,” Abaya said. “I would like to assure our public that ongoing efforts to divide and destabilize the esprit de corps of the AFP shall not prevail.”

He and about 58 other generals and colonels took an oath of allegiance during a hearing of the Commission on Appointments.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said the pledge would “contribute to the calming of the waters.”

Abaya said he spoke with the generals and they denied that they have resigned.

“I have talked with these officers and they all dismissed the reports as rumors and described it as crazy and coming from sources out to divide the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

“These rumors are obviously part of a grand effort to sow intrigues and undermine the cohesiveness of the AFP and create dissention within our ranks,” Abaya said in a statement. “We are soldiers of the people. We will protect democracy at all cost. The military remains committed and united in preserving democracy, as one strong Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

No to Dirty Tricks

Vice President Guingona was also reported to have stepped down, and a communist rebel spokesman and leaders of the mutiny have suggested Guingona take over as president.

Guingona instead called for an end to “partisan bickering, dirty tricks, below and above ground,” warning they could destroy the country.

Also yesterday, General Abaya announced the release from detention of 47 junior military officers who were allegedly misled by the mutiny’s ringleaders and did not take part in the occupation although their names appeared on a list of recruits for the mutiny found on captured computer disks.

The officers, however, will receive appropriate punishment for their “apparent lapses in joining dubious organizations,” Abaya said.

Another 30 officers were released from detention last week.