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Philippine police accuse 50 of rebellion

Philippine police filed rebellion complaints yesterday against 50 military officers and their supporters -- including a former Philippine vice president -- following a failed attempt to trigger a "people power" revolt against the president.

The accused, most handcuffed to police escorts, were herded into a hall at police headquarters, where prosecutors read the complaints against them and presented evidence, including M16 assault rifles, ammunition, special armbands and two-way radios allegedly used in the failed uprising. The process continued until 1:30am yesterday.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called the men desperate "lone wolves" who are blind to the people's wishes.

"Instead of striving under our democracy to unite the country, their actions only stoke selfish motives for self-interest," Arroyo said. "May the Filipino people take comfort in the fact that government institutions and civil society are strong and stable. The rule of law prevailed."

One of the accused, former vice president Teofisto Guingona, was taken to a hospital due to an unspecified ailment. A Roman Catholic bishop was temporarily released to the custody of another bishop, prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco said.

About 3,000 left-wing activists earlier called for Arroyo's ouster over alleged corruption and human rights violations during two previously planned protests in Manila to honor a prominent Filipino revolutionary hero, police said. They were blocked by police from approaching the presidential palace.

But those gatherings were tiny in comparison to the uprisings that ousted presidents in 2001 and 1986, and it appeared that Arroyo has survived yet another crisis.

The latest bid to oust her came on Thursday, when 14 soldiers walked out of their trial on earlier insurrection charges and commandeered the Peninsula Hotel.

They were led by Brigadier General Danilo Lim, who issued a statement urging Arroyo to resign and asking the armed forces to withdraw support for her.

The events were remarkably similar to four years ago, when the same officers tried a similar tactic at another upscale hotel a few blocks away.

The result was nearly the same too, though Arroyo -- clearly miffed that she continues to be dogged by attempts to oust her -- showed less tolerance this time, dispatching troops and police SWAT teams.

Of the 101 people arrested at the hotel, only 50 remained in custody on Friday. They were all charged with rebellion, Velasco said.
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