The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, May 02, 2001, Page A6, Image 6
Che ©amecock
Arroyo moves 5
to halt uprising I
I 'State of rebellion'
declared by president
of Philippines
by Paul Alexander
Associated Press 1
MANILA, Philippines — President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a “state
of rebellion” Tuesday, assuming special
powers to quash any remnants of
deadly protests aimed at restoring her
jailed predecessor to power.
Arroyo's move followed an attempt
by thousands of supporters of jailed former
President Joseph Estrada to storm the
gates of the presidential palace before
dawn. Clashes between the demonstrators
and security forces, which left four dead
and more than 100 injured, persisted
sporadically until afternoon, when police
dispersed the last pockets of mostly poor,
young men armed with rocks and clubs.
“Tliis is not just a demonstration. Tliis
is a rebellion,” government spokesman
Kigooerto l lgiao saia.
The order was restricted to Manila
and fell short of martial law as Arroyo
continued to walk lightly in dealing with
the protests. After being swept to power
in the Philippines when mass protests
forced Estrada to leave the presidential
palace Jan. 20, she has told police to
use “maximum restraint” on peaceful
rallies.
The order, however, did give police
the power to make arrests without
warrants. Justice Secretary Hernando
Perez immediately ordered 11 opposition
leaders arrested for allegedly inciting and
orchestrating what started as a post
midnight march by Estrada backers
who had rallied for the last six days,
demanding the former action film star be
freed from jail.
Estrada was arrested last week on the
charge of plunder for allegedly pocketing
millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks
‘ during 31 months hi office.
Most on the wanted list have large
followings in the Estrada camp. At least
‘This is not just a \
demonstration. This is a
rebellion.’ 4
Rigoberto Tiglao f
Government spokesman J
three, including Sen. Juan Ponce I
Enrile, were in custody late Thesday. But i
former national police chief Panfilo T
Lacson, a candidate for Senate, said he j
told his lawyers to question the order. ?
Arroyo, who said Monday a coup 1
plan fizzled hours before from lack of 4
support, looked exhausted as she went J
on national television Thesday morning t
after huddling all night with her Cabinet l
and directing operations from inside the 4
palace. She later gave interviews to TV >
networks to offer reassurances to the J
unsettled nation. f
“I can say to all of you that your j
government is in control,” she said. “The <
enemies are on the run. The police and i
the military are united behind the <
government, and I thank them for their J
heroic deeds today. We don't have to panic, <
but we should also not be overconfident.” ]
She claimed Estrada and his allies incensed J
supporters in an effort to seize power for S
their own benefit. J
But the worst crisis of her fledgling f
administration appeared to be over — for J
now. c
Military spokesman Brig. Gen. j
Edilberto Adan said the military may set A
up checkpoints. Talks of a possible curfew \
failed to materialize, and the sprawling
capital appeared largely quiet Thesday j
evening.
But a highly charged campaign for J
the May 14 congressional and local t
elections is heading into the fmal stretch, ^
and Estrada's corruption trial looms, <
providing opportunities for future i
flashpoints. <
rl
i
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