Arroyo Widens Purge of Suspected Coup Plotters

Charges of plotting a coup were filed against more than a dozen people Arroyo’s assurances that placing the nation under a state of emergency was merely a formality. Police filed non-bailable charges against former Sen. Gregorio Honasan, National Democratic Front (NDF) chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison, and lawmakers Crispin Beltran, Satur Ocampo, Rafael Mariano, Teodoro Casiٌo, Liza Maza and Joel Virador.

Also charged were1 st Lieutenants Lawrence San Juan and Patricio Bumidang Jr., and two other suspected rebel soldiers —2 nd Lieutenants Aldrin Baldonado and Angelbert Gay. Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao also placed the former commander of the police Special Action Force (SAF) and three of his men under “restrictive custody” in Camp Crame for their alleged involvement in a foiled plot to unseat Arroyo.

Lomibao identified those placed under house arrest as Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco, Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, and two others, identified only as Senior Inspector Paloma and Chief Inspector Dilag said to be “recruiting and encouraging” comrades to join anti-Arroyo rallies last Friday.

San Juan and Bumidang were two of the four alleged mutineers who escaped detention in January. San Juan was recaptured in February.

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