Loren linked to Saycon plot?

A military official linked opposition vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda yesterday to a recently uncovered plot to overthrow President Arroyo.

Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus, Armed Forces civil relations chief, said Legarda had met with civil society leader Pastor "Boy" Saycon at his residence in Makati City apparently to discuss a plan to take over the government.

"Nakikipaglaro si Loren sa lahat (Loren is playing with everybody)," Corpus told The STAR in an interview. "She was monitored in one of the meetings with Saycon."

The plot involved the newly formed "Kawal Filipino," whose alleged coup attempt was foiled with the arrest of five Army captains last week.

Corpus described Legarda as a "political prostitute" who would do everything "even to the point of selling the country" just to gain power.

"Sobra siya," he said. "She is a political prostitute. Ipagbibili niya ang lahat pati ang bansa."

Last week, the Kawal Filipino demanded the resignation of Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita whom it accused of using the government machinery to spy on Mrs. Arroyo’s enemies, among them presidential candidates Fernando Poe Jr., Raul Roco, and Panfilo Lacson.

At least 10 Army captains have volunteered to provide information to the National Bureau of Investigation and Army investigators to strengthen the charges of sedition to be filed against Saycon.

At Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye cleared Vice President Teofisto Guingona of involvement in any alleged plot to destabilize the government.

"Unang-una, palagay ko ang ating Vice President ay hindi nakikihalo sa ganitong kaguluhan (First of all, I don’t think our Vice President will involve himself in such a mess)," he said. "Alam niya kung ano ang magpapanatili ng katatagan ng ating bansa (He knows how to maintain the country’s stability)."

In a radio interview, Bunye said "certain quarters" were trying to link Guingona to the alleged coup plot of Kawal Filipino.

Authorities will not hesitate to go after those trying to destabilize the government with the full force of the law, he added.