Presidential Spokesperson and Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye belittled today the Makati City incident as “merely a situation.” Before Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, former Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and the Magdalo rebel soldiers surrendered tonight to authorities, Malacanang called on the public to remain calm as the situation in Makati City was very much under control.
Secretary Bunye said that the incident in Makati where the group locked themselves up in the second floor suite of the Manila Peninsula Hotel had meticulously been monitored by the elements of the military and the police and that the area had already been cordoned. Bunye appealed to the people who had no business at all in the area to leave the premises and avoid the Makati and Ayala avenues in order not to hamper the operations of the authorities.
“The situation is very much under control and we would like to assure our people that the rule of law will be enforced strictly. We appeal to the public to be calm, and stay away from the area to avoid any possible confusion dahil mahigpit po ang kautusan na ipatupad po itong ating mga batas,” he said.
He said that the firm response of the state is to maintain peace and order to prevent any confusion, avoid anymore destruction of public property and to amicably settle the situation. He also called on the members of the media not to cross the yellow line in the critical area in order to avoid casualties and to have the military and the police the leeway to operate.
“To all our media friends: please comply with the request of the police to immediately vacate Manila Peninsula in order to prevent/reduce unnecessary collateral damage. Stay outside the yellow police line,” Bunye said. He said the mandate of the military and police is to enforce the law in accordance with the implementing guidelines of the law. He anticipated that the Makati situation would end up peacefully as he stressed that there are internal guidelines the authorities had to observe.
He said that despite the Makati incident, the projected European trip of the President would still push through. He noted that even some senators had already made their own statement batting for the implementation of the rule of law. He expressed the belief that Makati local officials at this point in time had no accountability but were expected to enforce the law.
He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines has always been behind the Arroyo administration and ”we are very confident of the unwavering support. As a matter of fact we were in touch with the different commands who expressed their support to the chain of command, to their Commander-in-Chief.” He described the President as a hands-on leader who immediately convened an emergency Cabinet meeting after learning of the Makati incident.
“She started issuing orders to different parties concerned. Ito naman ay base sa mga naging karanasan. The President appeared very cool, very calm as she issued her directives,” he said. He considered the incident as merely a “situation” but reiterated that the government is on top of the situation.
Bunye added that the government’s primary concern was to contain the situation. He expressed the belief that the situation would be put under control as soon as possible and reminded those who have locked themselves up in the hotel to pay for their hotel bills before they leave the premises.
Several leaders like Laguna Gov. Teresita Lazaro, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, president of the Leagues of Cities of the Philippines; Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo and Deputy House Speaker Amelita Villarosa, have expressed their support and confidence in the President and condemned the Makati situation as violation of the Constitution of the Philippines.
Palace won't allow another Oakwood mutiny
Malacanang on Thursday said it will not allow another "Oakwood mutiny" to happen with the marching by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim in Makati City where they called on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down.
Presidential Legal Counsel Chief Sergio Apostol, in a radio interview, said that while they have adopted a wait-and-see attitude for now, they will take the "necessary action" once they gather enough evidence against Trillanes and Lim.
"The necessary action will be taken. We cannot repeat what they did in Oakwood," he said. Apostol said that while it appeared Trillanes and Lim are "trying to create a commotion," they cannot say for now what rules have been violated. "We will see what happens. We cannot say now what rules have been violated. Titingnan natin kung anong gagawin pa nila (We'll see what they'll do next), we will know what to do," he said. Trillanes was one of the leaders of the Magdalo group that staged a short-lived mutiny at the Oakwood Hotel in Makati City in July 2003. He and his fellow Magdalo leaders were charged with rebellion.
President Arroyo, who was earlier in San Pablo City for the Local Peace and Security Assembly, left aboard a helicopter after delivering her speech and headed straight to Malacanang where she will preside over a meeting by the crisis committee of the National Security Council (NSC) that will discuss the situation in Makati City.
The entire National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has been placed on full alert following a protest march by the Magdalos. Malacanang assured the public today that the government is on top of the situation and the new attempt to overthrow the government by Magdalo rebel soldiers in Makati City will be dealt with firmly but peacefully.
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye also told a press briefing that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains “very cool and calm” as she fired off several directives to government agencies during the emergency Cabinet meeting in Malacanang this afternoon.
The Chief Executive was visiting Laguna to preside over a local peace and security assembly in Region IV-A at the Villa Escudero Resort in San Pablo City when she was informed of the new anti-government movement launched by the detained members of the Magdalo group.
Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, meanwhile, said that the latest politico-military adventurism in Makati City will have a temporary effect on the market but will definitely not affect the economy. Teves based his statement on the assessment of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) acting Director General Augusto Santos who reported that the economy is not only stable but “still growing.”
The Finance secretary pointed out that the country’s economic fundamentals are robust as shown by the 42.80 percent economic growth in the third quarter, while the peso remains strong. Teves added that led by the services sector, the economy grew by 6.6 percent in real terms in the third quarter from a year earlier and is expected to exceed the full-year target.
“Sa palagay ko kapag ganitong klase ang fundamentals, we are able to handle this kind of temporary disturbance sa ating ekonomiya,” Teves said during a press briefing at the New Executive Building with some Cabinet members, top leaders of the House of Representatives, and other government officials.
Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila also reported that the market reacted to the Makati City disturbance but recovered swiftly before it closed this afternoon. He added that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the market remains calm as shown by its immediate recovery this afternoon from a brief trading lull in the morning.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza told the Cabinet that Mindanaoenos are fully behind the President and they condemn the new attempt by the Magdalo rebels led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes to create a political-military standoff. He said he believed that the new disturbance in Makati City will end peacefully because the government will not allow the situation to escalate and cause further harm to the economy.
“If Mindanao people are able to resolve their problems peacefully, I’m sure a small event like this will end peacefully,” Dureza told reporters.
The tension in Makati was sparked by Trillanes, former Gen. Danilo Lim and other Magdalo officers accused of leading the July 2003 rebellion when they walked out of their trial Thursday morning at the Makati City Regional Trial Court. From the RTC grounds, they marched through the streets of the financial district calling for the ouster of President Arroyo. Trillanes and his comrades numbering around 30 armed guards smashed the door of The Manila Peninsula along Makati Avenue and Paseo de Rojas Street after they overwhelmed the hotel’s security guards.
They then read out a statement demanding the resignation of President Arroyo.