PHILIPPINES: A mutiny by almost 300 heavily armed Filipino soldiers ended yesterday after it failed to win support from other military units and the civilian populace, writes Roel Landingin in Manila.
The troops took over an exclusive hotel in Manila's financial district at dawn yesterday in an attempt to force President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign.
The 20-hour occupation of the Oakwood building, Manila's most expensive hotel, ended at about 10 p.m. local time after the government allowed most of the renegade soldiers to return to barracks without charges. Five leaders will face a military court.
The government also agreed to set up a high-level commission to investigate the mutineers' allegations that top military and defence officials were aiding the illicit sale of government weapons and munitions to Muslim rebels to prolong their secessionist war.
The mutiny has greatly embarrassed the Philippine leader. Ms Arroyo was scheduled to deliver her annual state of the nation address today.
No attacks were staged on the presidential palace, other government centres or television stations. They had been targets of six earlier coup attempts against former President Corazon Aquino in the late 1980s.
By noon yesterday, the US and other foreign governments had affirmed support for the government of Ms Arroyo and expressed confidence in her ability to quash the mutiny.
The Australian ambassador, Ms Ruth Pearce, and other foreigners were trapped briefly in the building but were later allowed to leave.
The mutineers, drawn from army, navy, and air force combat units trained and equipped by American special forces to fight Muslim rebels, were led by a group of 20 young officers. They accused Ms Arroyo of plotting to declare martial law next month to prolong her rule beyond the end of her term in June 2004.
The rebellious officers called on other units of the armed forces and civilian organisations to support their action against the government. However, only 50 members of a fraternity of former policemen and soldiers heeded the rebels' plea for support.
The fraternity members who marched to the hotel yesterday were peacefully dispersed by pro-government soldiers. A small group of supporters of former president Mr Joseph Estrada also held a rally but did not move towards the hotel.
The government mobilised the mutineers' military academy classmates, wives, children and parents to persuade them to give up. The appeals to surrender were made through television, radio and text messages.
A relieved Ms Arroyo announced on national television that the siege was over. "Our decision to hold a dialogue has reaped fundamental and positive results," she said. "I assure the world that this event does not in any way injure our national security and political stability. The issues involved are domestic, operational or administrative. They do not involve fundamental or policy areas," she added.
While most people welcomed the peaceful end to the day-long mutiny, some business leaders warned that the government might be laying the ground for the next military misadventure by treating the rebel leaders leniently.
"If government does not punish the perpetrators, there is no assurance that this kind of thing will not be repeated in the future," said Guillermo Luz, executive director of a leading business association.