Arroyo lifts the `state of rebellion'

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said yesterday that public order had been restored and that she would lift at midnight a state of rebellion giving her emergency powers to quell alleged plots against her government.

"Effective at 12 midnight, I am lifting the order declaring a state of rebellion," she said on television.

Arroyo declared a state of rebellion -- two constitutional steps short of martial law -- on May 1 after thousands of supporters of her detained predecessor Joseph Estrada tried to storm the Malacanang presidential palace. Four people died and more than 100 were wounded in clashes between security forces and protesters.

An hour before she went on television, a grenade exploded at a Manila shopping mall, wounding about 30 people, police said. Radio reports said the grenade was lobbed by a gang of thieves robbing a jewelry shop.

"The disorder has subsided," Arroyo said. "While the threat to our republic remains, we have the situation under control."

She said those engaged in what she called a plot to replace her with a junta were now washing their hands of involvement.

"The others are hiding in fear," she said.

"We know the brains behind the rebellion. They were the ones who instigated the demonstrators to attack Malacanang on May 1. We have ordered their arrest. Many of those who attacked the palace are now in jail."

Authorities said they were still hunting for some opposition leaders they accused of inciting thousands of Estrada supporters to storm Malacanang as part of a plot to kill Arroyo -- and Estrada -- and take power themselves.

Two alleged plot leaders, opposition Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan and former police chief Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, went into hiding after the government ordered their arrest.

Arroyo told the nation that the proclamation of "a state of rebellion" was in line with the law and was a power vested in her by the Constitution to protect the nation and public peace.

"I will do everything to restore peace in the streets, in the communities, in the cities and farms around our country," she said.