Aquino’s foes threaten ‘people’s power’ revolt

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 6

Aquino’s foes threaten ‘people’s power’ revolt

NZPA-Reuter Manila Philippine soldiers were banned yesterday from taking part in opposition rallies as President Corazon Aquino’s foes, refusing to accept election defeat, threatened to stage their own "people’s power” revolt like the one that brought her to power. The Armed Forces chief, General Fidel Ramos, warned that soldiers joining the protest would face legal sanctions and those of them with guns would be “disarmed (and) arrested.”

General Ramos issued the warning a few hours before the former Defence Secretary, Juan Ponce Enrile, and other opposition leaders were to take to the streets to protest against alleged massive fraud in Monday’s legislative election. "I will not tolerate violence,” Mrs Aquino said as she prepared for a

confrontation with groups linked to previous coup plots against her 14-month Government.

Yesterday’s planned opposition demonstration was to be held on the same suburban EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos) highway — fronting two military camps — where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos massed in February, 1986, to support a military revolt that overthrew President Ferdinand Marcos.

Mrs Aquino’s coalition continued a crushing lead in the election. With 30 per cent of more than 20 million votes tallied by unofficial counters, her coalition held all but one of 24 Senate seats and appeared likely to hold most of the 200 LowerHouse slots. General Ramos, at a news conference with the Defence Secretary, Rafael Ileto, said he had sent notices to all field commanders prohibiting

troops from taking part in opposition rallies. Mr Ileto, who had earlier said soldiers were free to join opposition protests provided they were in civilian clothes and unarmed, revoked the clearance and said the constitution barred soldiers from political activities. General Ramos did not specifically say he would order the arrest of demonstrating soldiers who were unarmed and in

civilian clothes, saying only, “We will have to administratively deal with them.” He brushed aside opposition threats to stage a “people power” demon-, stration. General Ramos said the situation now was “entirely different” from that in February, 1986, when ordinary people joined him, Mr Enrile and a mutinous Army faction in ousting an unpopular Government.