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Philippines under state of emergency, 2006

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This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

The resulting dispersal of demonstrators against the Arroyo administration on February 24th, 2006.

Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona addressing anti-Arroyo protesters at EDSA Shrine.

Anti-Arroyo protesters led by U.P. Prof. Randy David at EDSA-Kamuning.

The Republic of the Philippines is currently under a state of emergency, declared by presidential spokeperson Ignacio Bunye on the morning of February 24, 2006. This occured after the government claimed that it foiled an alleged coup d'état attempt against the administration of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier that same day. The Philippine government security services also claimed that it has arrested a general who was involved in the coup attempt.

The state of national emergency also led to a temporary suspension of lower-level education classes and an immediate revocation on all licenses and permits to hold demonstrations and protests. Under the provisions in the constitution of the Philippines, at the moment, the government is allowed to detain anyone indefinitely without the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

Arroyo has justified her declaration of a state of emergency with her statement of "clear and present danger to our republic that we have discovered and thwarted." Critics claim that this is an attempt of Arroyo to seize political power due to her sagging influence and popularity, and some draw similarities to the actions of deposed Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos when he declared martial law in 1972.

1 Previous incidents
2 Timeline of events leading up to the proclamation
3 Events after the declaration
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

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Previous incidents

The coup attempt follows the 2003 Oakwood mutiny where President Arroyo, certain members of her cabinet, and the military were charged with corruption and of the Hello Garci scandal, and where Arroyo and certain election officials were charged with electoral fraud in the Philippines general election, 2004.

This also comes after Executive Order 464, where the President had forbidden government officials under the Executive branch to attend Filipino Congressional hearings, and the Calibrated Pre-Emptive Response, where street protests were disallowed without securing a rally permit.

This has led to a drop at the president's popularity rating from +28% right after EDSA II to -30% by December 2005. ^[1]

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Timeline of events leading up to the proclamation

The coup was first reported when 14 junior military officers were arrested for plotting a coup on Wednesday, February 22. By around midnight of the 24th, many military vehicles were seen entering Fort Bonifacio at Taguig City. Then, at 2:00 a.m., several more vehicles were seen entering Camp Aguinaldo at the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. Brigadier General Danilo Lim of the Scout Rangers was put under the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.^[2]

Hours later, large demonstrations were held at the EDSA Shrine, the site of the first People Power movement in 1986. The Presidential Malacañang Palace has been heavily guarded since a lacquer thinner bomb exploded outside of the building on Thursday, February 23 ^[3]. The coup is part of a plot codenamed "Oplan HACKLE."

Macapagal-Arroyo claimed that the coup was a plan between right-wing factions in the military and leftist anarchists, a highly questionable claim since it has been pointed out that both sides have fought each other in the past, and would make unlikely allies. ^[4]

By mid-morning, President Arroyo had declared a moratorium on all school activities from elementary to college level, issued through the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education. Around 11:25 a.m., Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1017 on national television, which places the entire nation under a state of emergency in an attempt to quell the rebellion — many fear this step might eventually lead to the introduction of martial law. The Proclamation effectively cancelled all rally permits everywhere, and according to interpretations by the Arroyo administration, legalized arrest without a warrant.

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Events after the declaration

The EDSA Shrine protesters were dispersed by the police by noontime. Some made their way to La Salle Green Hills, while others went to the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Ninoy Aquino's monument on Ayala Avenue at Makati City, the metro's central business district.

On the other side of EDSA, protesters led by University of the Philippines Professor Randy David were violently dispersed by the security forces at the EDSA-Kamuning intersection. Prof. David was arrested and was charged with inciting sedition. He was later released by nighttime, with all of the charges dropped. Ronald Llamas, a leader of the leftist AKBAYAN party, was arrested as well. ^[5]

Around 3:30 p.m. demonstrators from different sectors gathered around at the Ninoy Aquino Monument in Bel-Air, Makati City to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. Prominent personalities like former President Corazon Aquino and Kris Aquino, Senate President Franklin Drilon, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Bishop Teodoro Bacani and Bishop Oscar Cruz, as well as other senators like Sen. Aquilino Pimentel took part in this event. Protesters believed that Makati would be a safe gathering place because it is governed by Mayor Jejomar C. Binay who is an opposition leader. However, numerous police personnel have been deployed in the area to control the situation. The traditional throwing of confetti was carried out by some building occupants and a helicopter. The rally concluded by a dispersal made by the Philippine National Police around 7:30 p.m. ^[6]

After the Makati rally, the government sued former Senator Gregorio Honasan, who had previously led coups against the Aquino government in the 1980s, and other six leaders of RAM (Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa or Revolutionary Nationalist Alliance) for the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. On February 25, Rep. Crispin Beltran was shown a warrant and taken in for questioning under the state of emergency laws for an alleged role in a 1985 coup against Ferdinand Marcos, a highly unusual and controversial move since the alleged case occured over twenty years ago. Beltran has stated in response: "They say this is just an invitation but I think this is an arrest. Warrantless arrest, I think there will be more to come." ^[7]

Some observers have drawn parallels between the actions of President Arroyo and those of Ferdinand Marcos. Benito Lim, Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines, stated: "This is suppression of all freedom. It is in violation of the constitution and the bill of rights. This is the beginning of using stronger measures to quell dissent against the government. Their justification is reminiscent of Marcos when he proclaimed martial law."^[8]

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