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Monday, January 14, 2008
Military downplays chances of new coup attempt
MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) belittled Sunday chances of any plan to overthrow the administration of President Arroyo amid reports of a new destabilization plot.
AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. assured the government that the 120,000-strong military is ready to prevent any destabilization attempt.
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Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. earlier told the media he received intelligence information indicating that anti-government groups are hatching a destabilization attempt for January 22. He said the plan is similar to the November 29 standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati.
The standoff, led by opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and former Scout Ranger chief Danilo Lim, culminated in Lim's reading of a statement announcing a withdrawal of support for the President -- the military's commander-in-chief.
Gonzalez did not identify the leaders of the reported destabilization plot but said he got his information from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica).
Esperon said the military is still trying to validate the information disclosed by Gonzalez, who also warned journalists against interfering in legitimate police and military operations.
"That’s subject of our verification," said Esperon, without elaborating. "Let's just see, details might crop up. Let's just see, it’s better if we do not talk about it. What's important is that we are ready," he said.
The AFP chief admitted that there are still threats of military adventurism. He hinted that these come from the group of Lim, who has been also linked to the February 2006 failed power grab and failed coups in the 1980s, and Trillanes, who has been linked to the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.
"You know there are still those who are thinking that they can get support for that but it appears that it is far from reality," said Esperon.
"What is important there is that while we are monitoring, we are prepared, the troops are prepared. As far as the troops in the AFP are concerned, we don’t want those things (destabilization plots)," he said.
On whether the groups plotting to destabilize the government have the chance to succeed, Esperon said: "They (group of Trillanes and Lim) were the laughing stock in the Nov. 29 standoff. They cannot get support for that." (VR/JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (January 14, 2008 issue)
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