Manila opposition leaders plan talks with troops

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

MANILA, Mar 16: Political opponents of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo plan to start talks with soldiers next month to convince them that they are not part of a a conspiracy to topple the government.

Congressman Francis Escudero said they planned to visit military camps across the country ''to air our side and hear their side'' and make recommendations to avoid possible illegal violent actions from soldiers.

''We're not out to topple her from power,'' Escudero told a forum with foreign journalists. ''We just want her to be more accountable and responsible. We have not done nothing illegal or extra-constitutional.'' He said they wanted to dispel rumours that some members of the political opposition were conspiring with a group of rogue troops and communist guerrillas. ''We're not sleeping with the enemy,'' Escudero said.

Escudero, the minority leader in the lower house of Congress, said the opposition would also revive impeachment attempts by July against Arroyo over allegations election fraud and her recent declaration of emergency rule.

Arroyo claimed to have foiled last month an attempt by rogue troops, conspiring with communist rebels and her political foes, to replace her with a junta, prompting the president to declare emergency rule for a week until March 3.

Three commanders were removed, about 50 soldiers and police officers detained and six leftist members of Congress investigated for rebellion.

Ronaldo Puno, the interior secretary, put up an 156,200 dollar bounty today to arrest seven suspected masterminds of another foiled coup attempt in July 2003, including former senator Gregorio Honasan.

Honasan, a former army colonel and hero of a ''people power'' uprising against former dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, was linked anew in last month's fresh attempt to topple Arroyo.

The justice department is also evaluating rebellion complaints by the police against Honasan and 14 people, including some retired soldiers and communist rebel leaders for the latest conspiracy.

Gilbert Remulla, another opposition member of Congress, said they would resuscitate last year's impeachment complaints against Arroyo based on three ''solid'' cases that ''she stole, lied and cheated the Filipino people'' to win the 2004 election.

But, they would make sure not to make the same mistake of filing a complaint without the 79 required number of signatures that automatically sends the impeachment case to the upper house of Congress for trial.

Arroyo's allies in the 236-member House of Representatives defeated an attempt to unseat her after only 51 members voted to impeach the president. Initially, 73 members of Congress agreed to sign the impeachment complaint.

The opposition politicians have to wait till one year has passed after their last impeachment case before filing a new one.

The opposition leaders said they were confident that they would get the necessary numbers to impeach her, adding they have tonnes of documents and dozens of witnesses, such as teachers, soldiers and election officials to prove Arroyo cheated.

''Let us finally put a close to this sad chapter in the book of poisoned politics and move on,'' Arroyo's spokesman, Ignacio Bunyte, said in a statement today, adding a congressional inquiry on election cheating has not proven anything.

REUTERS

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