Manila's Arroyo says wants to lift emergency soon

Manila, Mar 1: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today (Mar 1, 2006) said she wanted to lift her emergency order as soon as possible and had directed officials to report back on the security situation within three days.

"I will lift the state of emergency once I am convinced that the security officials can assure me that we are in control of the situation," Arroyo said in a televised address.

"The justice secretary will report to me on the destabilisation movements, the secretary of national defence on the conditions in the military and the national police chief on peace and order and rule of law." Arroyo has come under pressure from her Vice-President, economic managers and even the US State Department to lift the state of emergency she declared last Friday after the discovery of an alleged coup.

REUTERS

Related Stories