Soldiers surrender after shopping centre 'coup'

Hundreds of troops who stormed a downtown shopping and apartment complex today demanding the government resign later ended a 19-hour stand-off and returned to barracks without a shot fired.

Booby trap explosives were defused at the scene in the Philippine capital’s Makati financial district as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced the surrender following hours of negotiations and repeated threats that she would crush the uprising with loyalist troops backed with tanks, armour and sharpshooters.

“The crisis in Makati is over,” Arroyo said on a national television.

She said the mutineers, who carried their weapons as they were taken away to a nearby army base, would face investigation based on “the articles of war”.

The Philippines has had dozens of military uprisings and coup attempts since the “people power” ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Today’s attempted coup took place just 24 hours ahead of a milestone state of the nation address by Arroyo. She denied the stand-off had loosened her grip on the presidency.

“I assure the world that this event does not in any way injure our national security and political stability,” she said.

“This is a triumph for democracy. May God Bless the Philippines.”

Five officers, all captains and lieutenants and regarded as ringleaders, “will face the full consequence of what they have done,” said Gen. Narciso Abaya, armed forces chief of staff.

Civilians involved would also be prosecuted. Earlier, officials said they would question Sen. Gregorio Honasan – accused in a series of coups attempts in the 1980s. Honasan has denied being behind the latest uprising.

There also were unconfirmed media reports that supporters of disgraced ex-President Joseph Estrada, now awaiting trial for massive corruption, might also be involved.

The mutineers had complained about corruption and misconduct by senior officers and the government as well as favouritism within the ranks along with problems with a military retirement fund.

Some demanded an inquiry into a recent spate of terror bombings in the country’s south and better control over military weapons and ammunition distribution.

“We are not attempting to grab power. We are just trying to express our grievances,” one senior mutiny leader, navy Lt. Sr. Grade Antonio Trillanes, told reporters. He said the explosives were for self-defence: “If they try to take us down, we will be forced to use it.”

Some emerged from the stand-off saying they were happy it was over.

One of them, Marine Capt. Nicanor Paeldon said: “We have gotten across our message clear to the whole nation and maybe to the whole world.”

Arroyo said the mutineers’ gripes centred on ”operational and administrative” matters and not ”ideological or fundamental policy areas.”

Earlier, Arroyo angrily set two deadlines for the rebels to give up, but both passed and government negotiators entered into talks with the troops.

Arroyo said 296 soldiers, including 70 officers, were ”returning to barracks”.

Hours earlier, she declared a “state of rebellion” giving authorities powers to make arrests without warrants. Loyal generals deployed tanks and hundreds of troops around the besieged complex, home to wealthy Filipinos along with some foreign business people and diplomats.

The stand-off at the Glorietta complex started off dramatically but later looked like surreal political protest rather than a coup as the mutineers - their demeanour largely casual despite tanks outside – held news conferences.

The stand-off began soon after Arroyo ordered the arrest late Saturday of a group of junior officers who deserted with their weapons and were believed to be plotting a coup.