Announcement: Coup is cancelled
It's funny how a coup today was quelled because everyone knew it was coming. The news of the coup spread yesterday afternoon through text and it was even stated as matter of fact: "Coup tomorrow, Feb 24. Please pass." It's weird and extremely funny at the same time, in a twisted way. A military officer who was part of the group who planned it even went on national television to say that he won't be joining the coup because everyone knew about it so what's the point. This only happens in the Philippines.
Vince has a visitor from Malaysia and yesterday they met with a client. I think the schedule of the coup (hahaha!) came up during the meeting and the visitor said that he doesn't think it's true..that it was just a rumor. He didn't expect to wake up this morning with the masses gathered in front of his hotel (his hotel is beside the EDSA shrine, the symbol of people power). That got him packing and wanting to rush to the airport. Hahaha! But the citizens remain oddly calm. The myGlobe team is still complete, working here at the office even after management announced a half-day because of the declaration of the state of national emergency. The announcement for us (myGlobe) was taken as permission to have a long and hearty lunch. Bwahaha! Well, it just goes to show that we've had so many coup attempts and so many destablilization plots over the last 20 years, that it has become as normal as breathing. Being president of the Philippines means being on your toes 24/7. Day in, day out, the president has to deal with all these moves to unseat him/her.
The power of text and technology has helped people to remain cool in a way. Gone are the days you wake up surprised that militants have stormed the palace and tanks are all over the place. Now we're warned a day earlier. Hahaha! But seriously, after the EDSA revolution in 1986 and during Cory Aquino's rule, my family moved to a new place in Quezon City. Cory's time was really the height of uncertainty and record-breaking number of coups. Since we lived near a military camp, I grew up waking to the sound of helicopters hovering over our house. For me until today helicopters = coup and I still find my heart beat faster whenever I see military copters in the sky.
So the day still continues normally, except that we have a rare early dismissal.
Vince has a visitor from Malaysia and yesterday they met with a client. I think the schedule of the coup (hahaha!) came up during the meeting and the visitor said that he doesn't think it's true..that it was just a rumor. He didn't expect to wake up this morning with the masses gathered in front of his hotel (his hotel is beside the EDSA shrine, the symbol of people power). That got him packing and wanting to rush to the airport. Hahaha! But the citizens remain oddly calm. The myGlobe team is still complete, working here at the office even after management announced a half-day because of the declaration of the state of national emergency. The announcement for us (myGlobe) was taken as permission to have a long and hearty lunch. Bwahaha! Well, it just goes to show that we've had so many coup attempts and so many destablilization plots over the last 20 years, that it has become as normal as breathing. Being president of the Philippines means being on your toes 24/7. Day in, day out, the president has to deal with all these moves to unseat him/her.
The power of text and technology has helped people to remain cool in a way. Gone are the days you wake up surprised that militants have stormed the palace and tanks are all over the place. Now we're warned a day earlier. Hahaha! But seriously, after the EDSA revolution in 1986 and during Cory Aquino's rule, my family moved to a new place in Quezon City. Cory's time was really the height of uncertainty and record-breaking number of coups. Since we lived near a military camp, I grew up waking to the sound of helicopters hovering over our house. For me until today helicopters = coup and I still find my heart beat faster whenever I see military copters in the sky.
So the day still continues normally, except that we have a rare early dismissal.
In front of Vince's office: a few hundred start walking towards EDSA.
*I posted some articles of interest taken from online newspapers in this entry's comments page
**To follow a running account visit the Inquirer's special report
posted by mela at 5:25 PM
2 Comments:
Feb. 24, 11:46am
Arroyo declares state of emergency
INQ7.net, Inquirer
MALACANANG PALACE--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared a state of emergency Friday to quell a military uprising that sought to overthrow her administration.
Arroyo's declaration is contained in Proclamation 1017, which she signed after a lengthy meeting with Cabinet members and police and military officials in Malacañang, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
In the declaration released to media at 11:20 a.m., Arroyo invoked Section 18, Article 7 of the Constitution that allowed the President to call on the armed forces to prevent or suppress rebellion.
The proclamation will also pave the way for warrantless arrests, government takeover of utilities, including media, and a ban on rallies, Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor said.
Arroyo said that over the past months, "elements in the political opposition had conspired with authoritarians of the extreme Left represented by the [National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army] and the extreme Right, represented by military adventurists -- the historic enemies of the democratic Philippine State -- who are now in a tactical alliance and engaged in a concerted and systematic conspiracy, over a broad front, to bring down the duly constituted government elected in May 2004."
She also noted that "the claims of these elements have been recklessly magnified by certain segments of the national media."
She said these series of actions were hurting the country "by obstructing governance, including hindering the growth of the economy and sabotaging the people’s confidence in government."
Earlier on Friday, Defensor said authorities were hunting down eight civilians and military officers allegedly linked to the coup plot, including their financiers.
Arroyo said the situation is under control.
Reporters covered the President's statement from the Arlegui guest house, few meters away from the Palace.
Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor allowed reporters to get in the Palace, but cameramen and photographers were prevented from getting footage and shots of the security situation inside.
Proclamation 1017
What follow is the full text of Proclamation 1017 declaring a state of national emergency MALACAÑANG PALACE
MANILA
PROCLAMATION DECLARING A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, over these past months, elements in the political opposition have conspired with authoritarians of the extreme Left represented by the NDF-CPP-NPA and the extreme Right, represented by military adventurists--the historical enemies of the democratic Philippine State—who are now in tactical alliance and engaged in a concerted and systematic conspiracy, over a broad front, to bring down the duly constituted government elected in May 2004.
WHEREAS, these conspirators have repeatedly tried to bring down the President;
WHEREAS, the claims of these elements have been recklessly magnified by certain segments of the national media;
WHEREAS, this series of actions is hurting the Philippine State--by obstructing governance including hindering the growth of the economy and sabotaging the people’s confidence in government and their faith in the future of this country;
WHEREAS, these actions are adversely affecting the economy;
WHEREAS, these activities give totalitarian forces of both the extreme Left and extreme Right the opening to intensity their avowed aims to bring down the democratic Philippine State;
WHEREAS, Article 2, Section 4 of our Constitution makes the defense and preservation of the democratic institutions and the State the primary duty of Government;
WHEREAS, the activities above-described, their consequences, ramifications and collateral effects constitute a clear and present danger to the safety and the integrity of the Philippine State and of the Filipino people;
NOW, THEREFORE, I Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by Section 18, Article 7 of the Philippine Constitution which states that: “ The President…whenever it becomes necessary,…may call out (the) armed forces to prevent or suppress…rebellion…, “ and in my capacity as their Commander-in-Chief, do hereby command the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to maintain law and order throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well any act of insurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience to all the laws and to all decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my direction; and as provided in Section 17, Article 12 of the Constitution do hereby declare a State of National Emergency.
IN WITNESS HEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 24th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, two thousand and six.
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President
Republic of the Philippines
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