Manila Peninsula rebellion
Encyclopedia
The Manila Peninsula rebellion occurred on November 29, 2007 at The Peninsula Manila
hotel in Makati City
, Philippines. Senator
Antonio Trillanes IV
, Brigadier General Danilo Lim
, and 25 other Magdalo (mutineers) officers walked out of their trial and marched through the streets of Makati City
. The mutineers called for the ousting of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
, and seized the Rizal function room on the second floor of the Manila Peninsula Hotel along Ayala Avenue
. Former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona, Jr.
as well as some of the soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines
joined the march to the hotel.
After several hours, Trillanes and Lim surrendered to government forces after a military armored personnel carrier barged into the glass door of the hotel lobby and the hotel walls and windows sustained weapons damage. Trillanes and the mutineers were arrested while several journalists covering the event were detained. The journalists were subsequently released.
Led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, thirty soldiers with armed guards, on trial for the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny
, walked out of court and marched towards the luxury Peninsula Manila Hotel. They were joined by former vice-president Teofisto Guingona, Jr.
, who called the gathering "New EDSA". They were also joined by other military personnel and civilians carrying M-16 or M-14 rifles. The soldiers, some of whom were carrying and wearing Magdalo (mutineers) flags and pins, marched along Makati Avenue and occupied The Peninsula Manila Hotel's second floor. Sen. Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Lim stayed in the Rizal
function room negotiating most of the time.
Arroyo called for an emergency Cabinet meeting as she took a helicopter back to the Malacañang Palace
amid tight security. Novaliches Catholic Bishop Antonio Tobias, Infanta Bishop Emeritus Julio Labayen, Jimmy Regalario of the Kilusang makabansang Ekonomiya, Father Robert Reyes, former University of the Philippines
president Francisco Nemenzo, Bishop Julius Labayen, Bishop Antonio Tobias, and Fr. Robert Reyes joined Trillanes's group, as Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Presidential Spokesperson-Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye rushed back to Malacañang. The Presidential Security Group sealed off the Palace while troops secured the North and South Luzon Expressway
s. A website soon appeared, proclaiming Lim and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as the leaders of the coup
. The website entry read:
The Philippine National Police
declared a red alert status in Metro Manila
as a result of the incident.
At 2:46 pm PST
, Police Director Geary Barias, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, ordered everyone inside the Manila Peninsula to vacate, according to reports on radio and television.
rushed at least three battalions of infantry, consisting of roughly 1,500 troops, to Metro Manila's Makati business district to crush the mutiny. The Philippine Marines on Thursday said it would be loyal to the chain of command and would help crush the rebellion led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim. The Marines sent three armored personnel carriers and two trucks of troops to Makati to support government police and military units in the area.
Judge Oscar Pimentel, Makati Regional Trial Court, issued an arrest warrant and Director Geary Barias, National Capital Region Police Office director, stated "Arrests will be made at 3 pm"
The Philippine National Police (PNP) gave Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim until this time to surrender, as it evacuated guests and personnel inside The Peninsula Manila Hotel. Lim stated: "We make this fateful step of removing Mrs. Macapagal Arroyo from the presidency and undertake the formation of a new government."
The planned assault was held off until 3:58 pm At 3:58 pm, 50 Special Weapons and Tactics commandos lined up outside The Peninsula Manila Hotel to enforce the arrest of rebel soldiers. The commandos, who were carrying gas masks, went into formation after rebel soldiers refused to accept warrants for their arrest. There were indications that the armed rebel soldiers inside the hotel were ready for battle.
Armored personnel carriers and Armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) of the police and the military were also dispatched around the building. The movement intensified after 4 pm, when policemen in full-battle gear fired warning shots as they prepared to storm the hotel. Footage taken by ABS-CBN Sky Patrol showed Special Weapons and Tactics commandos moving in battle formation towards the hotel.
Glass on the windows was broken to allow the dispersal of tear gas to those held up inside the hotel. Afterwards, an exchange of fire was heard between the military and the Magdalo Group. Firing stopped at 4:30 pm Bishop Julio Labayen appealed: "Please do not storm the place.. so nobody gets hurt." (4:37 pm) Various TV and radio crews, as well as other media personnel, were trapped in the hotel, while the Palace appealed to media and the public to stay away from Makati.
The AFV broke into hotel lobby at 5:10 pm, with soldiers pouring into the hotel. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim decided to surrender to the arresting authorities to avoid loss of lives as several journalists and other civilians were with them. Director Geary Barias declared that the standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel was over as the mutinuous soldiers agreed to leave the hotel and surrender to Barias after the 6 hour siege (5:30 pm).
and were sent to National Capital Region Police Office headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City
. ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, Bloomberg News
, NHK
, DWIZ
, Manila Bulletin
and Malaya journalists who were covering the event were also arrested. All of them were asked to leave their belongings and to not bring anything with them. They were advised by a lawyer not to talk as what the police were doing was against the law and violated their rights. Roman Catholic priest Fr. Robert Reyes and Bishop Julio Labayen were also seen boarding the same bus where the arrested press correspondents were transported in. The Special Action Force
was involved in arresting Brigadier General Danilo Lim.
Trillanes said he was ready to face whatever charges the government will give him.
In a TV interview with ABS-CBN
, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro
defended the arrests of media reporters as the arresting officers "didn't know the journalists and may have mistook them as renegade soldiers," although it should be noted that several of these journalists were hosting several prominent TV programs. Several journalists, mostly from TV and radio, were released at the NCRPO HQ.
It was announced that a curfew
from midnight to 5 am will be implemented in the regions
of Metro Manila, Central Luzon
, and CALABARZON
for the night of November 29–30.
ordered a manhunt for the soldiers who escaped from the hotel, including Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon; meanwhile, several persons of interest were detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City
. Several journalists were also "processed" at Camp Bagong Diwa and were subsequently released. On December 1, fifty individuals, including Trillanes, were charged of rebellion at inquest
proceedings.
On December 3, the Peninsula Manila became fully operational with an estimated damage at US$ 1.2 million. The next day, Armed Forces chief-of-staff Hermogenes Esperon announced the arrest of Communist New People’s Army operative Myrna Hombrebueno in connection with the rebellion, proving the connection between the Communists and rebels. Had Trillanes succeeded, according to Esperon, a National Transition Council (NTC), allegedly would replace the Arroyo administration, and the Philippines put under a "lean and mean" military and police force (per 5-page document – "Proposed Program"). Razon himself revealed that a "female press reporter" provided Faeldon a fake press I.D. card that caused his escape and that he is still inside Metro Manila
. Razon also sacked the Makati City police chief for failure to prevent the walk-out.
The Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC), upon receiving the cases on December 6, dismissed the cases against Guingona, Reyes, and other civilians, on December 13.
Canada: Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has posted a warning on its website for Canadians living in the Philippines to be careful with the implementation of the curfew.
Singapore: Singapore has advised any Singaporeans in Manila
to monitor any changes regarding the mutiny and to check in with the Singaporean embassy.
United Kingdom: The British Embassy advised its nationals to exercise caution and take sensible precautions, and avoid large crowds and gatherings. The statement said, "You should exercise caution and take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid any large crowds, political gatherings and demonstrations. You should also keep yourself informed of developments and follow the advice of local authorities"
United States: "The United States and the Philippines are long-time democratic allies and the US Embassy wishes to take this opportunity to reiterate our government's support for the rule of law, constitutional order, and the government of the Philippines; a statement from the US Embassy in Manila said, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney has spoken with officials at Malacañang Palace
to reiterate our confidence that this incident is swiftly and peacefully resolved by the Philippine National Police
, supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
, in accordance with Philippine law." Kenney stated: "No, we do not support extra-constitutional means to change government, in the Philippines or anywhere else in the world, I think it's always disturbing when you see people behaving contrary to the rule of law and constitutional authority; Washington will continue to "remain a very, very strong ally" of Arroyo, who is President George W. Bush's key ally in the Southeast Asian theatre of the US-led "war on terror; "We want this country to move forward."
The Peninsula Manila
The Peninsula Manila , is a 5-star hotel in the Philippines. It is located on the corner of Ayala Avenue and Makati Avenue in the central business district of Makati City, wherein it is now a landmark because of its majestic fountain and falls in Metro Manila. It is located also in Barangay Urdaneta...
hotel in Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
, Philippines. Senator
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
Antonio Trillanes IV
Antonio Trillanes IV
Antonio "Sonny" Fuentes Trillanes IV is a former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade and concurrently serving as a senator of the Philippines since 2007....
, Brigadier General Danilo Lim
Danilo Lim
Danilo Lim is a retired Filipino brigadier general. He has been incarcerated at the Camp Crame in Quezon City from 2006 to 2010 for rebellion charges and attempted coup d'état...
, and 25 other Magdalo (mutineers) officers walked out of their trial and marched through the streets of Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
. The mutineers called for the ousting of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
, and seized the Rizal function room on the second floor of the Manila Peninsula Hotel along Ayala Avenue
Ayala Avenue
Ayala Avenue is an avenue in Makati City in the Philippines. It is one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila, crossing through the heart of Makati's central business district. Because of the many businesses located on the avenue, Ayala Avenue is aptly nicknamed the Wall Street of the...
. Former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona, Jr.
Teofisto Guingona, Jr.
Teofisto Tayko Guingona, Jr. was the Vice President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2004 during the first term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.-Early Life and Career:...
as well as some of the soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
joined the march to the hotel.
After several hours, Trillanes and Lim surrendered to government forces after a military armored personnel carrier barged into the glass door of the hotel lobby and the hotel walls and windows sustained weapons damage. Trillanes and the mutineers were arrested while several journalists covering the event were detained. The journalists were subsequently released.
Occupation of The Peninsula Manila
Oakwood mutiny
The Oakwood mutiny occurred in the Philippines on July 27, 2003. A group of 321 armed soldiers who called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros" led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and LtSG...
, walked out of court and marched towards the luxury Peninsula Manila Hotel. They were joined by former vice-president Teofisto Guingona, Jr.
Teofisto Guingona, Jr.
Teofisto Tayko Guingona, Jr. was the Vice President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2004 during the first term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.-Early Life and Career:...
, who called the gathering "New EDSA". They were also joined by other military personnel and civilians carrying M-16 or M-14 rifles. The soldiers, some of whom were carrying and wearing Magdalo (mutineers) flags and pins, marched along Makati Avenue and occupied The Peninsula Manila Hotel's second floor. Sen. Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Lim stayed in the Rizal
José Rizal
José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda , was a Filipino polymath, patriot and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot and is listed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines by...
function room negotiating most of the time.
Arroyo called for an emergency Cabinet meeting as she took a helicopter back to the Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
amid tight security. Novaliches Catholic Bishop Antonio Tobias, Infanta Bishop Emeritus Julio Labayen, Jimmy Regalario of the Kilusang makabansang Ekonomiya, Father Robert Reyes, former University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
president Francisco Nemenzo, Bishop Julius Labayen, Bishop Antonio Tobias, and Fr. Robert Reyes joined Trillanes's group, as Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Presidential Spokesperson-Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye rushed back to Malacañang. The Presidential Security Group sealed off the Palace while troops secured the North and South Luzon Expressway
South Luzon Expressway
The South Luzon Expressway ', which is formerly called the South Superhighway ', and officially known as Radial Road 3 or R-3, is a network of three expressways that connects Metro Manila to the provinces of the CALABARZON region in the Philippines...
s. A website soon appeared, proclaiming Lim and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as the leaders of the coup
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
. The website entry read:
- "Senator Antonio Trillanes, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Magdalo soldiers, their guards and the people have started marching towards Makati triangle. [...] We presently find in existence a dangerous concept where the armed forces now owe their primary allegiance and loyalty to those who temporarily exercise the authority of the executive branch of the government rather than to the country and the Constitution they have sworn to protect. That is a concept we defy and struggle to eradicate. If you believe you are a man of will and courage with unselfish motives and brave enough to fight against such tyranny, rise up and be counted!"
The Philippine National Police
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
declared a red alert status in Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
as a result of the incident.
At 2:46 pm PST
Philippine Standard Time
Philippine Standard Time , also known as Philippine Time , is the official name for the time in the Philippines. The country only has one time zone, the UTC+08:00 time zone. The country used the daylight saving time for a short time...
, Police Director Geary Barias, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, ordered everyone inside the Manila Peninsula to vacate, according to reports on radio and television.
- "I am asking all guests of the hotel to leave so that we can do our jobs," Barias said in a live interview.
Siege and assault
The Philippine militaryArmed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
rushed at least three battalions of infantry, consisting of roughly 1,500 troops, to Metro Manila's Makati business district to crush the mutiny. The Philippine Marines on Thursday said it would be loyal to the chain of command and would help crush the rebellion led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim. The Marines sent three armored personnel carriers and two trucks of troops to Makati to support government police and military units in the area.
Judge Oscar Pimentel, Makati Regional Trial Court, issued an arrest warrant and Director Geary Barias, National Capital Region Police Office director, stated "Arrests will be made at 3 pm"
The Philippine National Police (PNP) gave Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim until this time to surrender, as it evacuated guests and personnel inside The Peninsula Manila Hotel. Lim stated: "We make this fateful step of removing Mrs. Macapagal Arroyo from the presidency and undertake the formation of a new government."
Armored personnel carriers and Armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) of the police and the military were also dispatched around the building. The movement intensified after 4 pm, when policemen in full-battle gear fired warning shots as they prepared to storm the hotel. Footage taken by ABS-CBN Sky Patrol showed Special Weapons and Tactics commandos moving in battle formation towards the hotel.
Glass on the windows was broken to allow the dispersal of tear gas to those held up inside the hotel. Afterwards, an exchange of fire was heard between the military and the Magdalo Group. Firing stopped at 4:30 pm Bishop Julio Labayen appealed: "Please do not storm the place.. so nobody gets hurt." (4:37 pm) Various TV and radio crews, as well as other media personnel, were trapped in the hotel, while the Palace appealed to media and the public to stay away from Makati.
The AFV broke into hotel lobby at 5:10 pm, with soldiers pouring into the hotel. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim decided to surrender to the arresting authorities to avoid loss of lives as several journalists and other civilians were with them. Director Geary Barias declared that the standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel was over as the mutinuous soldiers agreed to leave the hotel and surrender to Barias after the 6 hour siege (5:30 pm).
Arrests
Trillanes, Lim, and their cohorts, and Guingona were arrested by the Philippine National PolicePhilippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
and were sent to National Capital Region Police Office headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City
Taguig City
Taguig is a city in Metro Manila in the Philippines. From a thriving fishing community along the shores of Laguna de Bay, it is now an important residential, commercial and industrial center...
. ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, Bloomberg News
Bloomberg Television
Bloomberg Television is a 24-hour global network broadcasting business and financial news. It is distributed globally, reaching over 200 million homes worldwide. It is owned and operated by Bloomberg L.P...
, NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
, DWIZ
DWIZ
DWIZ is an AM station of Aliw Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the 5/F of Citystate Centre in Pasig City, while its transmitter is located at Obando, Bulacan, Philippines...
, Manila Bulletin
Manila Bulletin
The Manila Bulletin , is the Philippines' largest broadsheet newspaper by circulation, followed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It bills itself as "The Nation's Leading Newspaper", which is its official slogan...
and Malaya journalists who were covering the event were also arrested. All of them were asked to leave their belongings and to not bring anything with them. They were advised by a lawyer not to talk as what the police were doing was against the law and violated their rights. Roman Catholic priest Fr. Robert Reyes and Bishop Julio Labayen were also seen boarding the same bus where the arrested press correspondents were transported in. The Special Action Force
Special Action Force
The Special Action Force is the National Mobile Unit of the Philippine National Police. It is formed along the lines of the British Army Special Air Service, but with different recruitment and selection procedures...
was involved in arresting Brigadier General Danilo Lim.
Trillanes said he was ready to face whatever charges the government will give him.
In a TV interview with ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro
Gilberto Teodoro
Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo Cojuangco Teodoro, Jr. , or more commonly known as Gilbert/Gibo, is the former secretary of the national defense of the republic of the Philippines, having assumed the post in August 2007 until November 15, 2009...
defended the arrests of media reporters as the arresting officers "didn't know the journalists and may have mistook them as renegade soldiers," although it should be noted that several of these journalists were hosting several prominent TV programs. Several journalists, mostly from TV and radio, were released at the NCRPO HQ.
It was announced that a curfew
Curfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
from midnight to 5 am will be implemented in the regions
Regions of the Philippines
In the Philippines, regions are administrative divisions that serve primarily to organize the provinces of the country for administrative convenience. Currently, the archipelagic republic of the Philippines is divided into 17 regions...
of Metro Manila, Central Luzon
Central Luzon
Central Luzon , also known as Region III , is an administrative division or region of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of the vast central plain of the island of Luzon , for administrative convenience...
, and CALABARZON
CALABARZON
CALABARZON is one of the regions of the Philippines. It is also designated as Region IV-A and its regional center is Calamba City in Laguna...
for the night of November 29–30.
Aftermath
The Philippine National PolicePhilippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
ordered a manhunt for the soldiers who escaped from the hotel, including Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon; meanwhile, several persons of interest were detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City
Taguig City
Taguig is a city in Metro Manila in the Philippines. From a thriving fishing community along the shores of Laguna de Bay, it is now an important residential, commercial and industrial center...
. Several journalists were also "processed" at Camp Bagong Diwa and were subsequently released. On December 1, fifty individuals, including Trillanes, were charged of rebellion at inquest
Inquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
proceedings.
On December 3, the Peninsula Manila became fully operational with an estimated damage at US$ 1.2 million. The next day, Armed Forces chief-of-staff Hermogenes Esperon announced the arrest of Communist New People’s Army operative Myrna Hombrebueno in connection with the rebellion, proving the connection between the Communists and rebels. Had Trillanes succeeded, according to Esperon, a National Transition Council (NTC), allegedly would replace the Arroyo administration, and the Philippines put under a "lean and mean" military and police force (per 5-page document – "Proposed Program"). Razon himself revealed that a "female press reporter" provided Faeldon a fake press I.D. card that caused his escape and that he is still inside Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
. Razon also sacked the Makati City police chief for failure to prevent the walk-out.
The Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC), upon receiving the cases on December 6, dismissed the cases against Guingona, Reyes, and other civilians, on December 13.
Local community
- Chief Justice Reynato PunoReynato PunoReynato Puno y Serrano was the 22nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Appointed on December 8, 2006 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he was the 22nd person to serve as Chief Justice...
reiterated that he is not interested in a proposal to head a caretaker government if President Arroyo is removed from power. - Sen. Rodolfo BiazonRodolfo BiazonRodolfo "Pong" Gaspar Biazon is a politician in the Philippines. He is a former Senator. He was elected Senator in the 1992 election for a term of 3 years. He was elected to his first six-year term in the 1998 election, and was re-elected in the 2004 election...
, a former Armed Forces chief of staff, said he hopes that the situation will not end up in "soldiers killing each other. I hope no more officers and even enlisted men are going to be sacrificed because they were either influenced or they were ordered to do things. I hope the turn of events [is] not going to be rejected by our people," - Sen. Gregorio Honasan, who was implicated in the Oakwood mutiny, called for calm and sobriety.
- Sen. Juan Miguel ZubiriJuan Miguel ZubiriJuan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri is a Filipino politician who served as a Congressman representing the third district of Bukidnon for three consecutive terms, and was the Senate of the Philippines Majority Leader, replacing Senator Francis Pangilinan on November 17, 2008...
called on the government to begin the negotiation efforts. He suggested that Honasan is the "best person" to lead the negotiations. - Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., meanwhile, said he supports the calls for President Arroyo’s resignation but he said these should be done through peaceful means.
- Sen. Benigno Aquino IIIBenigno Aquino IIIBenigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
said the move of Trillanes reflects the "utter frustrations" of many Filipinos. - Sen. Manuel Roxas II, however, said any call for reforms should be done through legitimate programs and not through force.
- Justice Secretary Raul GonzalezRaul M. GonzalezRaúl Maravilla González, was the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and was the Former Secretary of Justice of the Philippines. He was replaced by Agnes Devanadera in 2009 from the orders of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.-External links:****...
said that President Arroyo will not declare a state of emergencyState of emergencyA state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
because of the mutiny. - Press Secretary Ignacio BunyeIgnacio BunyeIgnacio Rivera Bunye is a Filipino politician who is currently serving as the Monetary Board Member of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas since July 3, 2008...
said law enforcers were given internal guidelines on how to handle Trillanes and his group. - Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has ordered the re-arrest of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brigadier Gen. Danny Lim.
- Interior Secretary Ronaldo PunoRonaldo PunoRonaldo V. Puno is a campaign manager in Philippine politics. He supported the presidential bids of eventual winners Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo....
said, "We will finish it today" - LingayenLingayen, PangasinanLingayen is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is the capital municipality and the seat of government of the province of Pangasinan. According to the latest census, it has a population of 95,773 people in 16,467 households.Lingayen...
-DagupanDagupan CityThe City of Dagupan is a 1st class city in the Philippines. It is an independent component city of the province of Pangasinan. According to the latest census, Dagupan City has a population of 149,554 people in 25,921 households. Located on Lingayen Gulf on the island of Luzon, Dagupan is the...
Archbishop Oscar V. CruzOscar V. CruzOscar V. Cruz is an archbishop-emeritus of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. He was the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan, Philippines.-Biography:...
declared his support to the Rebel-turned-Senator Trillanes and echoed his call for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. - Armed Forces of the PhilippinesArmed Forces of the PhilippinesThe Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
Chief General Hermogenes Esperon meanwhile said that that they will take full measures to prevent any trouble in the area. - Col. Ricardo Nepomuceno of the Philippine Military AcademyPhilippine Military AcademyThe Philippine Military Academy or PMA, is the Philippine military school for the Armed Forces of the Philippines . PMA was established on December 21, 1936 by the virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 1 . PMA is located in Baguio, Benguet province...
said that they are now on alert as well. Nepomuceno said that there have been no reactions from the cadets in the academy. - CBCPCBCPCBCP may refer to one of the following:*Certified Building Commissioning Professional, an Association of Energy Engineers certification*Cross-Border Co-operation Process, a European union initiative*Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines...
president and JaroJaro-Philippines:*Jaro, Leyte a municipality in the province of Leyte*Jaro, Iloilo City a district of Iloilo City-See also:*Jaro–Winkler distance*Jaro Medien a German music company*Jaro Records, a subsidiary of Rank Records...
Archbishop Angel LagdameoAngel LagdameoThe Most Reverend Angel N. Lagdameo, D.D. is the current president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and the Archbishop of Jaro in Iloilo.He was born in Lucban in 1940...
stated that the standoff and curfew serve as preview to Martial Law: "Yesterday and last night, the people hold-in at Peninsula Manila had a foretaste of what Martial Law could be. God save us from the worse!" - The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) [Burd Wang, Manila Correspondent of Guangming Daily of China] stated in a letter to Ignacio Bunye that the journalists arrested were "treated arbitrarily by authorities; We hope, that through your office, there will be no repetition of this deplorable action." The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said in a statement that the Philippine National Police (PNP) treated the journalists as "enemies of the state. We protest in strongest terms the PNPs move to forcibly bring some journalists to the National Capital Region Police Office in Bicutan and condemn the confiscation of video footage of the day-long stand-off at the Manila Peninsula Hotel." Accordingly, the PNP leadership apologized to media representatives and crew, but it refused to accept that their response was "overkill".
- Mariano Garchitorena, the Manila Peninsula hotel’s public manager, stated that: Trillanes and company were gentlemen "To be fair di naman sila nag-abuso ng hotel namin (To be fair, they did not abuse our hotel staff). They were very gentlemanly in their act. They did not bother our staff and they did not bother our guests; He (Trillanes) assured us that they meant no harm to civilian to guests and all our staff of course."
- The Philippine Press Institute, in a statement, described the detention of mediamen as an “unprecedented assault on press freedom. Patently unconstitutional and carried out with such impunity that the innocent captives were treated like common criminals, cuffed, ordered to raise their hands in surrender, and bussed to the country's most notorious camp, Bagong Diwa, in Bicutan.”
- Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr.Jose de Venecia, Jr.Jose Claveria de Venecia, Jr. also known as JDV or Joe De V is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, serving from 1992 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2008. As Speaker, he was the fourth highest ranking official of the Philippines. He was the former president of the...
agreed with Trillanes that there should be "reforms at the top; the rule of law must prevail in our people’s collective cry for reforms; Without a doubt we need reforms at the top. That is the reason we launched the moral revolution so the nation can retake the moral high ground and decisively move from the continuing crisis in our midst to a renewal of our values." - Judge Oscar Pimentel, Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 said "the walkout (actions) of some of the accused were an entirely different case and has no bearing from the one being tried before his chamber".
- Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo PunoRonaldo PunoRonaldo V. Puno is a campaign manager in Philippine politics. He supported the presidential bids of eventual winners Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo....
chided Makati City Mayor Jejomar BinayJejomar BinayJejomar "Jojo" Cabauatan Binay, Sr. , also known as Jojo Binay or VPNay, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th Vice President of the Philippines since 2010. Previously, he was Mayor of Makati City from 1986 to 1998 and again from 2001 to 2010...
to punish Makati police officials for not immediately informing him about the SiegeSiegeA siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
, instead of blaming the Philippine National Police. - Sen. Jamby MadrigalJamby MadrigalMaria Ana Consuelo Madrigal-Valade , better known as Jamby Madrigal, is a politician in the Philippines. She was elected during the 2004 general elections as a Senator...
, who was the biggest campaign contributor of Trillanes when he ran for senator, did not visit Trillanes at Camp Crame detention center and parted ways: “Thank you, Sonny (Trillanes’s nickname). But let us just part ways."
International community
Australia: The Australian Embassy cautioned their citizens and said, "Australians are advised to avoid the immediate area. Further demonstrations could occur over the weekend (December 1–2, 2007)"Canada: Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has posted a warning on its website for Canadians living in the Philippines to be careful with the implementation of the curfew.
Singapore: Singapore has advised any Singaporeans in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
to monitor any changes regarding the mutiny and to check in with the Singaporean embassy.
- South Korea has advised all South Korean citizens and nationals to avoid going to the Manila Peninsula for the next 4/5 days as a safety precaution. The South Korean President also said they do not support any military coup de`etat such as the Manila Peninsula Rebellion or the Oakwood Mutiny.
United Kingdom: The British Embassy advised its nationals to exercise caution and take sensible precautions, and avoid large crowds and gatherings. The statement said, "You should exercise caution and take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid any large crowds, political gatherings and demonstrations. You should also keep yourself informed of developments and follow the advice of local authorities"
United States: "The United States and the Philippines are long-time democratic allies and the US Embassy wishes to take this opportunity to reiterate our government's support for the rule of law, constitutional order, and the government of the Philippines; a statement from the US Embassy in Manila said, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney has spoken with officials at Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
to reiterate our confidence that this incident is swiftly and peacefully resolved by the Philippine National Police
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
, supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
, in accordance with Philippine law." Kenney stated: "No, we do not support extra-constitutional means to change government, in the Philippines or anywhere else in the world, I think it's always disturbing when you see people behaving contrary to the rule of law and constitutional authority; Washington will continue to "remain a very, very strong ally" of Arroyo, who is President George W. Bush's key ally in the Southeast Asian theatre of the US-led "war on terror; "We want this country to move forward."
External links
- ABS-CBN News
- Philippine Daily Inquirer
- Timeline, Oakwood Mutiny
- Oakwood Mutiny Backgrounder
- Destabilization efforts against the Arroyo administration
- Profile, Antonio Fuentes Trillanes IV
- Profile, Brigadier General Danilo Lim
- Transcript: Statement of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Magdalo soldier
- Sundalo:Tagapagtanggol ng Pilipino (Soldiers: Protector of the People), a Website containing various statements by Trillanes, et al.
- Inquirer.net, Updated List of 50 Detainees as of 02:33am (Mla time) 12/01/2007
- Sun Star, Manila Peninsula Siege TIMELINE
- ABS-CBN, Rebellion in Makati, PHOTOS|TIMELINE|QUOTES|CHRONOLOGY|PAHAYAG NG PANGULO