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3 Philippine Military, Police Officers Sacked for Power Grab Involvement

Posted on: Friday, 24 February 2006, 09:00 CST

3 Philippine military, police officers sacked for power grab involvement

MANILA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Three military and police officers has been removed from their post and put under restriction for their alleged involvement in a power grab attempt against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Philippine military chief said on Friday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Generoso Senga has placed under restriction a commander of an elite Army unit and another officer, a Marine colonel, for alleged involvement in a plot to oust Arroyo.

Senga told the GMA TV that he had ordered Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, under restriction while probe is ongoing against Col. Ariel Querubin, who heads the 1st Marine Brigade in the South.

Lim and Querubin called Senga late Thursday night to persuade him to withdraw support for Arroyo, Senga said.

Senga said Lim and Querubin were "misguided elements who were planning to join protest rallies" to force him to withdraw support for Arroyo, who is being hounded by charges of fraud in connection with the 2004 polls.

"There will be no withdrawal [of support to the President] ... We remain steadfast in adhering to the Constitution," Senga said, adding that he has called military commanders early Friday and reminded them that they "will abide strictly with the chain of command."

Lim and Querubin were among the founders of the Young Officers Union, that mounted a number of failed coups in the late 1980s against then president Corazon Aquino.

"We have reduced the threat," said Senga.

They have also been removed from their posts, said AFP Civil Relations Service chief Brig. Gen. Jaime Buenaflor. He described the two as "misguided" for "withdrawing their support" from the chain of command.

Buenaflor said also under investigation is Chief Supt.Bong Franco, commander of the PNP's Special Action Force, who was also relieved of his post. It was not clear if the AFP is in charge of the investigation into Franco.

Thousands of protesters from militant and pro-opposition groups are expected to take to the streets on Friday to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1986 "People Power" uprising and press anew for Arroyo's ouster.

Security around the Armed Forces headquarters Camp Aguinaldo Quezon City and at the Army headquarters Fort Bonifacio in Makati city have been tightened in the face of the latest destabilization plot.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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