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Monday, July 04, 2005
Military renews loyalty to Arroyo amid coup rumors (11:10 p.m.)
MANILA -- The military on Monday renewed its pledge of loyalty to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amid a swirl of fresh coup rumors fueled by allegations that she rigged last year's elections.
Billy Bibit, a former constabulary officer detained after a failed 1989 coup, said a group of young officers was planning to replace Arroyo with a civilian-led caretaker government that would restore political and economic order.
But military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Buenaventura Pascual downplayed the claim, saying the military "will remain apolitical and never allow any group or personality to use the (armed forces) to advance any political and personal interest."
Bibit claimed the officers, mostly captains and majors, believe Arroyo has lost moral authority after she was tainted by accusations of cheating in the May 2004 election.
The allegations intensified last month with the disclosure of recordings of phone conversations in which the president allegedly sought an assurance from an election commissioner that she would win by more than a million votes.
Arroyo has apologized for talking to the official, but denied influencing the election outcome. The scandal has upset financial markets and set off coup rumors and calls for her removal, mainly by the opposition, left-wing groups and a cluster of ex-generals.
The prestigious College of Law of the state-run University of the Philippines called on Monday for Arroyo's resignation, saying her action violated a constitutional provision guaranteeing the independence of the Commission on Elections.
"Resignation is the best apology she can offer the Filipino people," the college said in a statement.
De La Salle University, a prominent Roman Catholic university, made a similar call on Sunday.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye insisted that Arroyo did not violate any law and said calls for her to step down did not reflect the sentiment of the majority of Filipinos.
Bibit said that members of the military are taught not to lie, cheat, steal or tolerate anybody who does so. "They're honor-bound to follow that code," he said.
Pascual denied Bibit's claim, saying the ex-rebel officer may be griping over his recent removal from the Bureau of Customs because of insufficient credentials. Bibit was released under an amnesty for rebel troops and worked as a customs official.
Another officer linked by a newspaper report to alleged anti-government plots, army Col. Gregorio Catapang, also denied any involvement.
"The rule of the mob is the last thing that this country needs at this most trying moment of our existence," he said.
Pascual said the 115,000-strong military adheres to the chain of command, headed by Arroyo, who is the constitutional commander in chief.
The Philippines has a history of coup attempts. Two years ago, a group of disgruntled officers complaining of corruption and favoritism in the chronically underpaid and poorly equipped armed forces briefly seized an upscale hotel in Manila's financial district before surrendering.
With the latest crisis, Arroyo has faced almost daily opposition protests calling for her resignation, but they haven't matched the huge rallies that toppled late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Joseph Estrada in 2001. The military's withdrawal of support from the former leaders was crucial to their downfall. (AP) |
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