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Philippine police intensify protest crackdown
MANILA, Philippines -- Philippines police have intensified their crackdown on high profile supporters of Joseph Estrada suspected of organizing protests aimed to topple President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Police escorted former Senator Ernesto Maceda, the Estrada administration’s ambassador to Washington, from his home Wednesday afternoon to police headquarters in Camp Crame, where Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has been detained since Tuesday. The arrest came shortly after Arroyo warned she would not tolerate any further street demonstrations after declaring a ‘state of rebellion’ to quell violent marches by supporters of deposed president Joseph Estrada.
Arroyo, the former vice president who was thrust into power in January after Estrada was forced from office amid a “people power” uprising, said no further demonstrations would be allowed in central Manila. “There’s no need to be afraid because there’s no more danger,” Arroyo told radio DZMM in Manila. She said she had ordered security forces to arrest any demonstrators. In the fallout of the violent marches, in which at least four people including one policeman were killed as demonstrators tried to storm the presidential palace, Arroyo has ordered the arrest of several key Estrada allies. ‘Unconstitutional’Police arrested Enrile without a warrant, which the Arroyo government says is allowed under the “state of rebellion” it declared over Manila. Maceda called his arrest “legally defective and unconstitutional.” Meanwhile, Senator Gregorio Honasan, a known ally of Enrile and leader of a loyalist faction in the military, and former national police chief Panfilo Lacson are said to be in hiding. Police could not find them at their homes. The government earlier offered a fourth suspected senator, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, to turn state witness, but she has refused. “Since we can’t turn her into a state witness, we’ll turn her into an accused,” Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said. Security officials are also weighing whether to arrest two sons of Estrada, who Arroyo said was ultimately behind the attempts to unseat her. The two sons are J.V. Ejercito, a businessman who appealed to protesters not to march on the presidential palace Malacanang, and Jude Estrada. “We are evaluating the possibility because we are getting mixed reports of the kind of participation that he had prior to the march … and during the march. That includes Jude Estrada,” said National Security Adviser Roilo Golez on local television. Estrada and his son, Jinggoy, were arrested last week on a plunder charge, which carries a possible death penalty. The former movie actor is alleged to have pocketed $82 million in bribes and kickbacks during 31 months in office. Estrada implicatedArroyo said Estrada had been implicated in the uprising by a document he allegedly left behind in a military hospital, which was a supposed draft of the deposed president’s declaration of his return to office after his "leave of absence." It was the first time Arroyo openly tagged Estrada in destabilization moves against her 100-day-old administration, and the accusation came after she ordered the arrest of three senators who allegedly led protests against her. Estrada was flown by helicopter from the hospital to a police detention center in the nearby province of Laguna on Tuesday, hours after his supporters clashed with riot police and soldiers guarding Malacanang Palace. Arroyo has declared the uprising as a failure. "I'm not worried. I'm in control," the president told CNN after declaring a state of rebellion in Manila. In a radio interview, Arroyo said she may be forced to declare martial law if the peace and order situation worsens. "They shouldn't tempt me. If they accelerate this, I'll have no choice," she said. Ironically, Senator Enrile, a former defense secretary, signed the arrest orders of thousands of political opponents of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial law on September 21, 1972. Markets cheeredThe arrest orders cheered Manila financial markets, which were badly battered by months of political uncertainty.
Philippine Central Bank Governor Rafael Buenaventura said the peso is stronger against the dollar Wednesday on abating political concerns. In early trading, the dollar averaged 51.328 pesos on the spot market, down from 51.450 pesos at the previous close. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 3.4 percent in 45 minutes of trading Wednesday after falling 2.9 percent in the previous session Monday. "The immediate danger has passed," said BNP Paribas Peregrine Securities research head Edgar Bancod. The Associated Press contributed to this report. RELATED STORIES:
Lawyers question Arroyo's powers RELATED SITES:
Philippine Office of the Press Secretary |
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CNN's Andrew Stevens speaks with Senator Enrile who was arrested for inciting protest
