Army detains major linked to ‘Final Act 2’ coup plot

A Philippine Army major formerly with the elite Scout Ranger Regiment has been detained for questioning by the military for alleged links to an alleged coup plot in February against President Arroyo, according to a senior military official who declined to be identified.

Meanwhile, the regiment’s former commander, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, has been summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for questioning on his alleged involvement in the latest coup attempt that prompted Mrs. Arroyo to declare a state of national emergency.

Maj. Jason Aquino has not reported for duty since he was sacked in July from his post as the Scout Rangers’ chief of operations for allegedly distributing pamphlets calling for a change in the government.

A senior military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Aquino was detained on orders of Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon when he reported back last week to avoid being considered AWOL (absent without leave). Aquino is currently undergoing questioning.

Aquino was allegedly involved in a coup and an assassination plot against Mrs. Arroyo — dubbed "Operation Hackle" — that was supposed to be carried out in mid-February.

Military officials said the plan was disrupted and that the plotters included "politicians, leftists and rightists" who joined together to oust Mrs. Arroyo.

Both Esperon and Army spokesman Maj. Bartolome Bacarro could not be reached for comment on Aquino’s arrest.

When news of Aquino’s arrest circulated at Camp Aguinaldo last week, Esperon told reporters he had not heard about it. "If that is true, we should not make a big deal out of it," he said.

The NBI also wants to question Lim about allegations that former President Corazon Aquino’s brother, Philippine Olympic Committee chief Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, and Arroyo critic Pastor Saycon, head of the Council of Philippine Affairs, helped plan the coup.

Lim and two other officers were arrested in a government crackdown on the alleged plotters on Feb. 24, eve of the 20th anniversary of EDSA I people power revolt that ousted former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Later that day, Mrs. Arroyo issued Proclamation 1017 declaring a state of national emergency and ordering security forces to clamp down on its enemies.

An intelligence report also tagged Lim as a "godfather" of a group that calls itself Para Sa Bayan (For the Nation), which the military claims is involved in the Hackle plot.

Cojuangco, Saycon and several other mid-level officials and businessmen allegedly planned the conspiracy at Cojuangco’s residence, according to Time magazine reporter Nelly Sindayen, who said she was at the meeting.

Saycon allegedly spoke with Lim by phone during the meeting.

Cojuangco and Saycon deny the coup plot accusations.

"What did they really discuss at Cojuangco’s house on Feb. 23? Were they really plotting against the President or planning for the people power I celebration?" asked NBI regional director Reynaldo Esmeralda, head of the bureau’s Special Task Force.

"In his statement, Pastor ‘Boy’ Saycon admitted he talked to General Lim and even placed their conversation on the speaker phone so it would be heard by other people in the room. So this only means he is a material witness. His name was also mentioned in the statement of former Tarlac representative Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco," Esmeralda said.

Cojuangco and Saycon said in their statements that the latter called up Lim to verify rumors of a coup. Lim dismissed the rumors, they said.

The NBI is also looking for an unidentified intelligence officer with whom Saycon also spoke by telephone during the meeting and asked about the coup rumors.

Saycon will again be summoned this week to identify the intelligence officer, Esmeralda said.

In a letter to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Saycon questioned the Time magazine article on the meeting, saying it was "highly exaggerated and grossly erroneous and is entirely different from what really transpired during the meeting."

The NBI wants to question Sindayen about the meeting but she hasn’t responded. "We received a letter from Time Asia editor Michael Elliot who said they were looking into this matter and that they would get back to us in due course," said NBI officer-in-charge Nestor Mantaring.

Mrs. Arroyo imposed the emergency declaration to counter an alleged conspiracy by disgruntled military officers, communist rebels and some elements in the political opposition.

She lifted Proclamation 1017 last Friday after her security advisers gave assurance that the reported coup had eased. — With Evelyn Macairan