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Thursday, December 15, 2005
Abat declares self head of 'transition government'
MANILA -- A retired general has called for the overthrow of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, declaring himself leader of an interim government, but officials on Wednesday were unperturbed.
"This declaration is quite unfortunate and very pathetic," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in Kuala Lumpur, where Arroyo was attending a regional summit. "I don't think there is any serious apprehension on the part of the President."
Late Tuesday, 80-year-old general Fortunato Abat said Arroyo--who recently survived an impeachment attempt over allegations of election fraud--acts like she has done nothing wrong, routinely trifles with the truth, and that people have had enough of the corruption and incompetence of her government.
"I declare the existence of a revolutionary transition government and the formation of a transition government council to administer the affairs of government," Abat said in a statement he read before supporters and media at the historic Club Filipino in Metropolitan Manila.
"This is a peaceful takeover of power by people motivated by nothing else but sense of patriotism," he read, calling on the military and police to protect the sovereign will of the people.
Crisis
"I am not saying I'm the 14th president," Abat said, adding that he was mandated by his supporters to "form a government to confront this crisis that we are in now."
In a crackdown on supporters of Abat, army commander Lieutenant General Hermogenes Esperon ordered the retired general's son, Colonel Victor Abat, relieved as deputy commander of the 702nd Brigade in northern Nueva Ecija province for allegedly "enjoining others to join destabilization" through cellular telephone text messages.
"He was doing things other than his job. He was not doing his job as a soldier," Esperon told reporters without elaborating, adding that he ordered the colonel formally investigated.
Arroyo has been haunted by months of calls for her removal from power, and coup rumors rose to a new crescendo in the days before her departure Sunday.
On Tuesday, Bunye said Arroyo had dismissed persistent coup rumors and that she believes the military remains loyal to her government.
Waiting
Accompanied by about three dozen supporters, Abat said his group plans to stay at Club Filipino-where Corazon Aquino was sworn in as president following a February 1986 people power revolt-until Thursday. It wasn't immediately clear what they were doing there, although it appeared they were waiting for more supporters to gather.
Officials mocked Abat's declaration, but still saw fit to take action.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. said Abat, whom he described as "senile," did not bother him, but that he had ordered prosecutors to charge the former defense secretary with sedition and to resolve an earlier sedition complaint filed against him in June.
He said Abat could be held liable for attempted coup because he already asked the military to withdraw support from President Arroyo.
"That is like calling on the AFP (Armed Forces) to stage a coup d'etat. Those acts that are being done in Club Filipino are attempted coup d'etat already," Gonzalez said.
Gonzales said he also asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to monitor the developments at the Club Filipino since Tuesday night. He said he met with National Police Chief Arturo Lomibao Wednesday to map out security measures.
Very secure
Metropolitan Manila police chief Vidal Querol said officers are closely monitoring the situation.
"We still study if this is serious or funny, if this is an illusory statement or a fit of hallucination," he said. "We will see what action he will take following his statement."
On Abat's threat that he and his group would attack the Palace, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said this would not amount to anything because Malacañang is "very, very secure."
He said many groups are dissociating themselves from Abat, including Susan Roces, wife of the late presidential candidate Poe. He said four retired generals dropped by his office when he was still defense secretary to tell them they will no longer participate in any destabilization attempt.
Ermita added that many opposition leaders are also aware that leftist groups have infiltrated their ranks. (AP/Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
(December 15, 2005 issue)
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