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Arroyo downplays coup attempt

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has downplayed the "proclamation" of a "revolutionary transition government" by a former military chief and defence secretary Fortunato Abat.

Maintaining that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the national police remained loyal to Ms. Arroyo and her administration, presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in Manila on Thursday that the move by Gen. Abat was a "pathetic" gambit.

The often-embattled President was attending the just-concluded summit of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the inaugural East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur earlier in the week, when Gen. Abat proclaimed himself the "President" of a "government of unity for national survival."

Unperturbed

She remained unperturbed and returned to Manila after participating in the summits as planned, Mr. Bunye emphasised.

Gen. Abat, who announced his intention to stage "a peaceful takeover of power" from Ms. Arroyo, might be charged with sedition, the spokesman indicated.

The retired military officer's move, which he made public in San Juan on Tuesday, was characterised as an "incident" that did not distract the President from her agenda at the ASEAN-organised summits.

While Ms. Arroyo's aide quickly dismissed Gen. Abat's action while she was still in Kuala Lumpur, it was announced in Manila on Thursday that the escape of a former "mutineer" on Wednesday was also related to the ongoing efforts to "destabilise" her administration.

Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, one the "leaders" of a failed "mutiny" in 2003, escaped from custody after attending a court hearing on that coup attempt.

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