President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo faced criticism from prominent Filipinos on Saturday for declaring a state of emergency to quash a coup plot, with a former president and military commander saying the move will hurt the Philippines unless it is rescinded soon.
Meanwhile, police raided the offices of a newspaper critical of Arroyo and detained an opposition lawmaker, as opponents planned to gather at a Roman Catholic Mass to press their demands for the president to resign.
Former president Fidel Ramos, who stood by Arroyo during last year’s failed impeachment bid, joined the president’s critics, saying in a TV interview: ”I was not only surprised, I was appalled and dismayed” by the declaration.
Ramos accused Arroyo of ”killing the spirit” of a ”people power” revolt that toppled late dictator Ferdinand Marcos 20 years ago to the day. He said he didn’t believe the declaration was justified because no actual coup attempt had taken place, and that Arroyo had overreacted.
”If there is a plot of conspiracy, then an immediate investigation must take place to determine whether an actual crime was committed,” said Ramos, a military commander who withdrew his support for Marcos and was a key figure in the dictator’s downfall.
He did not call for Arroyo’s resignation, as his predecessor, Corazon Aquino, has done. Aquino, the icon of the 1986 revolution who restored democracy in the Philippines, led a street protest on Friday during which she urged Arroyo to step down.
Arroyo has said the state of emergency was necessary to prevent a breakdown in law and order.
Friday was one of the toughest and longest days yet for Arroyo, who already has withstood two coup attempts and numerous other crises during five tumultuous years in power.
Imposing a state of emergency is a dangerous move in a country still smarting from the martial-law decrees used by Marcos.
Newspaper raid
Early on Saturday, police barged into the offices of the Daily Tribune and confiscated editorial materials and a bundle of newspapers headlining Arroyo’s declaration. After the raid, they posted police at the door but it was not clear if they intend to close the office, the paper’s publisher, Ninez Cacho Olivarez, said.
”We were raided. They apparently came without any search warrant,” Olivarez said.
Manila police chief Pedro Bulaong confirmed the raid, but did not give details.
The newspaper, owned by Olivarez’s family, has been among the most critical of Arroyo, and has recently reported on alleged military plots to oust her.
Also on Saturday, Representative Crispin Beltran, a member of the leftist Anakpawis party in the House of Representatives, was taken into custody for questioning at police headquarters in Manila. Local media said Beltran was being questioned about an old rebellion case.
On Friday, riot police quickly used force to disperse two protests. Later, Aquino, a one-time Arroyo ally, and about 5 000 people were allowed to march peacefully to a memorial to her late husband, Benigno, whose assassination in 1983 sparked massive protests that led to the revolt against Marcos.
An army general was arrested and a police commander was relieved of his duties, as military chiefs moved to quash the rebellion before it even started.
The military has played major roles in two ”people power” revolts and has a recent history of restiveness, so Arroyo ordered a massive security clampdown, with military camps barricaded to keep troops from joining the demonstrations.
Military chiefs said they backed Arroyo and that they had eased the threat of a coup, but hadn’t wiped it out completely.
Arroyo vowed she was in control, but clearly was worried about losing her grip on events as her opponents tried to hijack commemorations of the 20th anniversary of the 1986 revolt. The government cancelled the commemorations.
Arroyo said the political opposition was determined to bring down the elected government.
”This is my warning against those who threaten the government: the whole weight of the law will fall on your treason,” Arroyo said in a nationally televised statement.
Her Chief of Staff, Mike Defensor, said the declaration bans rallies, allows arrests without warrants, permits the president to call in the military to intervene and lets her take over facilities — including media outlets — that may affect national security. — Sapa-AP