More Troops Deployed in Preparation for Assault vs. Mutineers

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, July 27, 2003

More Troops Deployed in Preparation for Assault vs. Mutineers

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The Philippine government deployed more troops to cordon off the Makati business district of Metro Manila on Sunday in preparation for a possible assault on mutineers holed up there as warned by the president.

More soldiers in full battle gear aboard several jeeps arrived in Makati to reinforce troops already there manning positions.

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes told reporters at the military headquarters that groups on their way to Makati will be blockaded and dispersed.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave the group of about 200 rebel officers and soldiers until 5:00 pm (0900 GMT) Sunday to surrender or face assault.

"I am giving you up to five o'clock this afternoon to stand down, surrender your weapons and return to barracks," she said in a television and radio address.

Past this deadline, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff is "authorized to use reasonable force to dislodge your group quickly and efficiently, and arrest you," Arroyo said.

Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes, one of mutiny leaders, said in an interview with the ABS-CBN television that they will hold a press conference later to reply to Arroyo's ultimatum.

Trillanes assured that there will be no bloodshed, but said hisgroup, which he claimed has 2,000 members, will be forced to defend themselves if attacked by government troops.

On Sunday morning, opposition Senator Rodolfo Biazon, a retiredMarine general and AFP chief of staff, entered the Ayala Center shopping mall in Makati to talk to the mutineers. But he refused to disclose the content of the talks after he came out the building some 20 minutes later.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said later at a press briefingat the presidential palace that Biazon was acting on his own initiative.

The rebel military officers and soldiers stormed into the AyalaCenter shopping mall in Makati and set up explosives booby traps outside department stores, hotels and condominiums in the mall to defend them from attacks by troops dispatched by the government.

They claimed they were not mounting a coup but only airing their grievances, but a statement they issued later asked President Arroyo to step down.

Arroyo confirmed a coup plot against her administration on Saturday and ordered the arrest of the mutiny plotters.

Last Thursday, she said she had "resolved some understandable restiveness" in the military through direct dialogue with a group of young officers, who have complained about low pay, corruption and inadequate housing facilities.

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