MANILA, 27 February 2006 — A tense Marine standoff with loyalist troops over the sacking of the Philippine Marine commander was resolved late last night when the colonel who called for a show of solidarity with the commander relented.

The officers appeared to back down when their appeal for people to defy a ban on rallies and turn out to protect them “from aggression” — presumably from the government — drew only about 3,000 to 4,000 opposition figures, leftist leaders and their followers.

The new Marine commander, Brig. Gen. Nelson Allaga, said the men had agreed to be loyal. “It’s clear we follow the chain of command, and we follow the duly constituted authority,” Allaga said after meeting with the men inside the Marine camp.

On the face of it, the standoff appeared to be an internal matter, as Allaga claimed, with the restive officers claiming they were just showing support for their outgoing commander. But the Marines were widely reported to have been among military units involved in a coup plot that military officials said Friday they had uncovered before it could be launched.

The call for people to come to the camp came from Col. Ariel Querubin, earlier named by the military as a key figure in plans by Marine officers and their troops to withdraw support for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and join protests demanding her resignation. Querubin confirmed that plan yesterday.

Instead, Arroyo launched a security clampdown, declaring a state of emergency that her critics claim is a step toward martial law.

Querubin had declared support for his former Marine commander Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda.

Miranda had voluntarily relinquished his post, but Querubin said this was not true and that he was relieved by the armed forces leadership.

The US Embassy, saying it was monitoring the situation carefully, called for a peaceful resolution of the political crisis. “We reiterate our call for the government of the Philippines and Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Filipino people to respect fully the rule of law, protect civil liberties, human rights and reject violence,” embassy spokesman Matthew Lussonhop said.

Riot police tried twice to disperse the people outside the Marine headquarters in suburban Manila. But the protesters resisted, and the police backed off each time, apparently on orders not to worsen the situation with violence.

Earlier, presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor said Arroyo was leaving it to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense to resolve the standoff. Defensor also appealed to the politicians, who went to Fort Bonifacio, not to politicize the event.

“Let us allow the police to do their job, to implement peace and order,” Defensor said. “Let’s not aggravate the situation.”

The uneasy scene was a clear sign that efforts to oust Arroyo remained alive. Arroyo said Friday that “treasonous” elements were trying to unseat her, and military officials said they could not be certain that the coup plot was completely dead.

— Additional input from agencies