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Thursday, January 29, 2004
Arroyo to deal 'sternly' with military plotters (11:05 a.m.)
MANILA -- President Arroyo Thursday insisted her government was secure following the arrest of six military officers for inciting rebellion and vowed to deal "sternly" with the plotters.
"The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is on top of the situation as far as the latest incident is concerned. That incident is an isolated incident," Arroyo said in a speech marking the 13th anniversary of the national police force.
"Our nation is safe," she said.
She said there was no widespread support for any plot to destabilize the government. The officers appeared on television late on Wednesday accusing the government of spying on presidential rivals ahead of May 10 polls.
"This is another case of partisan exploitation of military adventurism. The (military) will impose the commensurate level of discipline against its erring members and the (justice department) shall file charges against those found culpable," Arroyo said.
"We will deal sternly with violations of the chain of command."
Officials said the six officers detained were being interrogated. They said the officers were engaged in a plot to incite rebellion or destabilize the government ahead of the May elections, in which Arroyo is seeking a second term.
Arroyo last year quashed a military mutiny against 300 junior military officers, in what government said was part of a larger plot to assassinate the president and replace her with a junta. AFP |
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