Philippines lifts 'rebellion' decree

The number of government troops on the streets has been gradually reduced

In this story: Cripple opposition Estrada still 'hero' On the run RELATED STORIES, SITES

By staff and wire reports

MANILA, Philippines -- Five days after declaring a state of rebellion, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has lifted the emergency status.

Arroyo made her order effective midnight Sunday and said it would give Filipinos enough time to prepare for crucial elections scheduled to be held May 14.

ANALYSIS The 'people power' dilemma    CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition     MESSAGE BOARD The Philippines    IN-DEPTH Joseph Estrada: Downfall of a president

Arroyo declared a state of rebellion Tuesday after supporters of her predecessor, Joseph Estrada, marched to the presidential palace in what authorities said was an attempt to topple the government.

The state of rebellion, the first of the president's three emergency powers, gave the government greater power to end violent protests by allowing police to arrest people without a warrant.

Four people died and more than 100 people were wounded in clashes between security forces and protesters.

Arroyo's announcement to lift the state on Sunday was delayed several hours, partly because of a grenade explosion in a shopping mall, which heightened the mood of uncertainty.

But police have dismissed a political motive for the explosion, calling it a robbery attempt.

Cripple opposition

Opposition politicians had slammed Arroyo's decision to impose the state of rebellion, saying it was the government's attempt to cripple the opposition before May 14 elections as it justified arrests of Estrada supporters.

More than half the Senate, all the House of Representatives and thousands of local officials will be elected.

Much is at stake for Arroyo, who came to power four months ago on the crest of protests much like the ones that turned violent last week.

Enrile is out on bail, but authorities are still looking for his alleged accomplices

Administration candidates must have a strong showing in the election to show the government has the mandate of the people.

But Arroyo faces further challenges, said Irene Natividad of the Philippine American Foundation.

"The former president still has supporters who won't rest until he's restored," she told CNN.

Estrada still 'hero'

Arroyo must also work to revive the economy and reach out to the poorer segments of Philippine society, a group who tend not to see Arroyo as a legitimate president, Natividad said.

Many of the poor still see Estrada, a former actor, as the hero they saw in the movies, she said.

"She does need to reach out to a segment of society that does not see her as their president, and she's beginning to do that," said Natividad.

The president's biggest challenge, she said, is to avoid looking weak and indecisive: "two adjectives pinned on [former President Corazon] Aquino, who faced seven coup attempts."

On the run

Meanwhile Philippine authorities are still looking for opposition leaders accused of inciting Estrada supporters to storm Malacanang Palace in what reports said was part of a plot to kill the president.

Two alleged plot leaders, Senator Gregorio Honasan and former police chief Panfilo Lacson have managed to elude capture since the government ordered their arrests last Tuesday.

Both are running for seats in congressional elections to be held May 14.

A prominent Philippine lawmaker is free on bail after he was arrested last week on a rebellion charge, newspapers say.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile was released on the order of the Philippine Supreme Court, after he posted bail of $2,000 (PhP 100,000).

The Arroyo government welcomed the high court's ruling, saying that by avoiding a ruling on the state of rebellion, the Supreme Court had "implicitly recognized" the legality of the move, the Philippine Daily Inquirer said.

"We respected the decision of the Supreme Court. It bolstered what we have done. It was not a setback at all. (Enrile) was merely granted bail," the Inquirer quoted spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao as saying.

Also free on bail is former Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Ernesto Maceda.

A lower court allowed him to post bail of $1,600. But even before Maceda had posted bail, authorities had released him into the custody of his lawyer for health reasons, the Inquirer said.

Both have denied any wrongdoing.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

Philippine state of rebellion to end soon
May 4,2001
Supreme Court bind over Arroyo powers
May 3, 2001
Business group lends weight to Arroyo
May 4, 2001
Philippine police intensify protest crackdown
May 3, 2001

Philippine Office of the Press Secretary
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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