Failed Putsch Attempt in the Philippines

The five-star "Peninsula Manila" hotel in Manila's business district of Malaki usually exudes a luxurious calm. But on Thursday (29.11.07) the usual calm was disrupted as the hotel became the scene of a dramatic coup attempt against Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The renegade soldiers had just left a court hearing on their involvement in a failed coup attempt four years ago. They -- and the military police supposed to guard them -- barricaded themselves in the hotel lobby. They called for President Arroyo to step down immediately.

Special commandos storm the hotel

Special police units surrounded the hotel and called for the soldiers to give themselves up. After the first deadline to leave the building was ignored, the special commando stormed the hotel in a flurry of gunfire and tear gas. At least two people were injured. The rebels, who include former vice-president Teofisto Guingona, Brigadier General Danilo Lim and Senator Antonio Trillantes, surrendered. Senator Trillantes said they wanted to avoid "a bloodbath and innocent victims". He told reporters gathered around the hotel:

"You have been witnesses and victims of the kind of ruthlessness this administration has given to the people. Now, like soldiers, we are going to face this."

Second coup attempt by Trillanes

This is the second time Senator Trillanes has tried to stage a coup against President Arroyo. Philippine Brigadier General Edgardo Gurrea explains why this second attempt failed:

"They were not able to get some support from the fellow soldiers or some they might have expected from the opposition leaders. They were on their own. I am not to pursue on the political side because it was only the former vice president Guingona, some civil society groups. I think there were two attorneys or lawyers who worked together. There were two or three religious leaders from the Catholics who were also sympathetic to Trillanes."

Although the vast majority of the population, and the Philippines army, did not support the attempted coup, dissatisfaction with President Arroyo is growing. Her ratings have gone down because of unexplained corruption charges and strong indications there might have been election fraud when she was re-elected three years ago.

Long tradition of military coups

There is a long tradition of coups in the Philippines. Since President Fernando Marcos was overthrown in 1986, there have been more than a dozen coup attempts. Even President Gloria Arroyo herself assumed power after a successful military putsch in 2001. Her rule has already survived two coup attempts, with Thursday's attempt making it three.

But Senator Trillanes says if Gloria Arroyo doesn't clear the charges against her very soon, it's only a matter of time till the "day of reckoning".