MANILA, 21 September 2006 — Malacañang Palace and the military leadership yesterday dismissed speculations of a coup in the Philippines similar to that in Thailand, saying the armed forces stood loyal to its duty to protect the constitution.
“We have gotten in touch with the people (in the armed services) just to be sure that things are handled in a manner that will not cause alarm whatsoever in the Philippines because there is nothing to be duly alarmed about,” presidential Executive Secretary Eduardo told reporters.
Analysts and commentators have likened the political troubles of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with those of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was facing persistent calls for resignation over corruption and poll-cheating allegations.
But Ermita yesterday said the situation in Thailand was different from the Philippines.
“Political stability had been attained in the Philippines, in spite of efforts of some elements of the opposition to besmirch the reputation of the president through their charges,” he said.
“The Filipino people and the armed services stood by the president as our legitimate president and commander in chief and therefore the instability that the opposition and some sectors would like to project had been somehow corrected and neutralized,” he added.
Arroyo’s dominant allies in the House of Representatives have defeated two attempts by a wide range of critics, including bishops, retired generals, academicians, businessmen, students, laborers, farmers and the political opposition, to have her impeached, one last year and another last July.
Arroyo survived a coup attempt in late February, two attempts to impeach her in Congress, and a wave of street protests to force her to step down.
Arroyo also weathered a mutiny staged by some 300 junior officers and enlisted men, who stormed the Oakwood luxury apartments in Makati on July 27, 2003.
Military spokesmen issued separate statements affirming their loyalty to Arroyo.
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro quoted military chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. as saying the chain of command remained “intact” and the military “loyal to the constituted authorities to include the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive.”
“We don’t see it happening here. That will never happen,” Esperon said in the statement. “We are taking orders from our commander-in-chief, who is the president.”
“We are all aware that even previous attempts (to unseat Arroyo) have failed because of measures being undertaken by the armed gorces... We have what we call internal consolidation,” Bacarro said.
The Philippine Army yesterday also expressed confidence that its troops would not mount a coup d’etat.
“The Philippine Army, as a matter of policy, isolates itself from politics and distances itself from political groups. It leaves politics to politicians,” he said.
“It will not yield to any pressure from anti-government groups and political opposition and aid efforts to unconstitutionally change our country leadership,” he added.
Even some critics of Arroyo doubted whether a “copycat coup” would succeed in the country. Sen. Ralph Recto said there’s “reason to believe that what we have is a constitutional military. If our soldiers were not, then they could have taken matters into their own hands when the political climate reached boiling point” when 10 of Arroyo’s key officials resigned last year amid allegations that she cheated in the 2004 election.
Sen. Richard Gordon noted the disastrous effect of coups not only to countries but to the region itself. “In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, there is concern already for Myanmar, China, North Korea, and certainly in the Philippines, where we have had these military exercises,” Gordon said. (With input from INS & Agencies)
