MANILA, 28 July 2003 — The military mutiny ended peacefully as renegade Philippine soldiers barricaded in an upscale Manila shopping center ended a nearly 19-hour siege yesterday and began returning to barracks, witnesses and negotiators said.
The disgruntled troops, who accused the government of corruption and colluding with rebels, began dismantling what appeared to be explosive devices they had placed around a residential and office building in the center of the capital.
They had denied they were staging a coup and eventually dropped demands for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to quit.
Arroyo said the crisis was over and the 296 mutineers, including 70 junior officers, would face court martial proceedings.
“Civilians shown to be involved in any conspiracy will be prosecuted,” she said in a brief televised speech.
“I assure the world that this event does not in any way injure our national security and political stability. The issues involved are domestic, operational or administrative. They do not involve fundamental or policy areas.”
Rebel troops had seized the Ayala Center in Manila’s bustling Makati financial district in the early hours of yesterday, accusing Arroyo and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes of corruption and demanding their resignations.
Pro-government soldiers backed by armored cars encircled the complex as two separate deadlines ordering the rebels to surrender or face a military assault expired. After lengthy talks with government negotiators, the rebel soldiers ended the siege around 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) and agreed to return to barracks to face military justice, officials said.
Even though the siege ended without a shot being fired, the grievances — including demands for Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, the chief of national police and the head of military intelligence to quit — remain unresolved.
No hostages were held and the atmosphere around the shopping center was calm, with many government troops relaxing or eating a dinner of rice and fish as the talks carried on.
The rogue soldiers also accused Arroyo of planning to declare martial law ahead of next year’s scheduled elections.
“We don’t intend to grab power,” they said in a statement. “We are asking the present regime to step down because it is no different from the previous regimes. For this, we are ready to lay down our lives.”
Navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes, one of the mutiny leaders, told reporters before the siege ended: “I think we have already accomplished a moral victory.”
Armed forces chief of staff Gen. Narciso Abaya said the rebels were now “being bussed” toward the Fort Bonifacio army headquarters in southern Manila.
“That’s where they’re going to stay overnight, then tomorrow they will go back to their barracks,” Abaya said.
The rebels had seized the center early yesterday and wired the complex with explosives after Arroyo publicly accused them of plotting a coup on Saturday.
The rebels, sporting red arm bands and led by young officers, accused Arroyo of corruption and staging terrorist attacks in the south to gain US military aid.
Around 300 foreigners and residents trapped in the complex, including Australian Ambassador Ruth Pearce, had earlier been allowed to leave.
Western and Asian governments rallied behind Arroyo, with the United States and Australia leading support for the Philippine leader, seen as a key partner in the war against terror.
