The mutineers, slipping on red armbands with a white sunburst, secured the Glorietta Mall and the Oakwood Premier apartments at 3am Sunday. The shopping center was also the scene of the final big attempt against Aquino, in 1989, after which the rebels were allowed to march out in formation.
The luxury apartments house many foreigners, including the ambassador of Australia, but by late morning all residents had been freed except, according to a local report, two who overslept.
The center of Makati, the city's business district, was sealed off by troops and armored personnel carriers and the streets were empty as Arroyo addressed the mutineers on television.
"This is your commander in chief," declared Arroyo, who has worked hard to cultivate an image of resoluteness. "Even if you think you can gain political power in this way, which you cannot, you will realize that there is no substitute for democracy and constitutional means to solve the problems of our people."
Arroyo's presidency is itself the product of a mutiny in January 2001 when the military, responding to clamorous crowds in the streets, told the incumbent, Joseph Estrada, that it was "withdrawing its support."
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