Friday, December 16, 2005 (Philippines)

Former defense secretary Fortunato Abat (center) is being led by plainclothes police officers to Camp Crame for interrogation. Abat and three others were arrested yesterday and later charged with sedition after announcing the setting up of a “revolutionary transition government.”(Ap photo) MANILA - Police arrested 80-year-old retired Army general Fortunato Abat a day after he declared a “revolutionary transition government” to oust President Arroyo. Abat, a former defense secretary and army commander, was bundled into an unmarked police van and taken in for questioning together with former ambassador Roy Señeres, former budget secretary Salvador Enriquez and lawyer Carlos Serapio. Police later lodged sedition complaints against them. Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco said they would decide by noon today if the charges would be forwarded before the courts. [full story]