‘FVR men recruiting for junta’

Former President Fidel Ramos’ trusted men are reportedly recruiting members for a junta that could be part of a larger destabilization plot against President Arroyo.

Detained former President Joseph Estrada told The STAR yesterday he refused the offer made by the "FVR men" to join their "council." He added that they approached him after the latest Pulse Asia survey showed he enjoyed a 44 percent trust rating.

At the same time, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez warned yesterday that "anti-GMA forces," including supporters of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. and Estrada, are planning to sow chaos during the Labor Day rites on May 1.

Gonzalez said the alleged anti-government forces include some politicians and "civil society" leaders.

"There is an intelligence report about a destabilization plot on May 1. They will gather in front of the University of Sto. Tomas and move towards Mendiola. We will wait for May 1 (and see) if there will be bombings. But from my best sources, it is the same group who wanted to do it during the burial" of Poe last December, he said.

Estrada said he learned about the latest "coup" plot, which was supposedly going to be staged on May 1 by Ramos men identified with the group of retired generals Jose Almonte and Fortunato Abat.

Almonte and Abat served Ramos as his national security adviser and defense secretary, respectively. They have figured prominently in the media during the past few weeks, airing their concerns on the alleged disenchantment of the military, citing the perceived mistreatment of retirees and pensioners who have yet to receive their benefits.

Estrada believes that Ramos has given his blessing for his people to reach out to him, but refused to say who actually approached him.

"Sinasali nila ako, ayaw kong sumali. Eh, panay bata sila ni FVR. Sila-sila na lang! (They want me to join them, but I won’t. Since all of them are FVR men, let them run it)," he said.

Estrada said he turned down the alleged overtures to join their de facto council "because they knew a majority of our people still trust me despite the demonizing done to me. I got 44 percent in the Pulse Asia while I’m in detention, just taking care of my ducks."

Chuckling, the ousted president added, "What more if I am out and not detained here in Tanay?"

"If they want me to join them, they should make me the leader, the principal," Estrada said while laughing.

In a more serious vein, Estrada said he is preoccupied with his ongoing plunder trial at the Sandiganbayan. He has asked his defense lawyers to prepare a new petition for the anti-graft court to allow him to post bail.

"I am not a flight risk. I hope they (the Sandiganbayan justices) allow me to post bail so that I can be with my mother in what could be her last days of life," he said. "How can I run away and leave my 100-year-old mother behind? No way."

Estrada laughed off intelligence reports of alleged plots by his supporters to destabilize the Arroyo administration.

"Ewan ko sa kanila! (I don’t know about them)," he said, adding that as far as he is concerned, "I’m concentrating on the 100th birthday of my mother this Monday."

The Sandiganbayan has approved Estrada’s petition to allow him to join his mother’s birthday party at the Manila Hotel from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., accompanied by police and military escorts.

The STAR tried to get in touch with Ramos but his aides said he was in a meeting in Tagaytay City. Ramos’ aide told The STAR to fax a request for an interview to his office in Makati City.

Past whispers of a coup had also been linked to Ramos, who was instrumental in Estrada’s ouster during a military-backed revolt in January 2001.

But Ramos has repeatedly denied these allegations, saying they are nothing but wild rumors he dubbed "coup-kurukuku."

Ramos, along with former President Corazon Aquino, was last seen with President Arroyo at Malacañang during the state banquet for visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao Wednesday night.

Estrada’s revelations came as policemen and soldiers prepared for a mass action to mark the May 1, 2001 siege of Malacañang, in which Estrada’s supporters stormed the Palace but were violently dispersed.

Fall Guys

Meanwhile, two suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group asked Gonzalez for police protection, saying they had received information that they would be picked up as fall guys in an alleged plan by anti-Arroyo groups to carry out car bombings tomorrow.

The two men identified themselves as Eduardo Arabe, also known as Abdul Jahlil, and Tyrone Santos, also known as Dawud Muslim del Rosario Santos.

Santos, who was out on bail as one of those accused of planning to bomb certain areas of Metro Manila, insisted he is innocent of the charges against him. His case is pending before the Quezon City regional trial court.

He alleged instead that a certain "Agent B" informed him "now that Dawud is out on bail, the car bombings in Metro Manila will be perpetrated on May 1."

Gonzalez, however, said he cannot assign policemen to protect Santos and instead asked the two men to put themselves under "safekeeping" with the National Bureau of Investigation.

Santos and Arabe refused the offer and decided to seek the assistance of police in Quezon City and Mandaluyong.

Santos was arrested by agents of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) last March 22 at the Rajah Soliman Movement compound in Cubao, Quezon City on the strength of a warrant issued by a Tarlac court for illegal possession of firearms, explosives and ammunition.

He later led the military to a hideout in Fairview, Quezon City where agents seized 10 sacks of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in the manufacture of bombs; 18 bomb canisters; a personal computer and a camera.

The military subsequently linked Santos to a plan to stage bombings during Holy Week, and said the explosives seized earlier were supposed to be used for that purpose.

The bombings were supposed to be carried out by the Rajah Soliman Movement in coordination with the Abu Sayyaf to avenge the death of 24 Abu Sayyaf leaders during a riot at the Camp Bagong Diwa prison last March 15.

Santos is also facing charges in connection with a raid in Alaminos, Pangasinan, where authorities seized a huge cache of explosives. He earlier posted a bail bond of P80,000 for his temporary liberty. — With Jose Rodel Clapano