‘Trillanes, Lim to lead junta, take over media offices had coup succeeded’

Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim had planned to head a junta to establish a new government and take over large media organizations “to free them from the control of big advertisers.”

A document recovered from the scene of last month’s siege at the Peninsula Manila staged by Trillanes and Lim revealed the plans of the two “would-be” junta leaders to turn over the media to the custody of journalists’ groups, academicians and people’s organizations.

The document, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR, supposedly stated the intent of Trillanes and Lim to witness the establishment of a caretaker government to replace President Arroyo.

“The masses have come to realize that changing presidents alone will make no difference to their lives. For the extra-constitutional exercise to arouse popular enthusiasm, it should offer an alternative to the present system of elite rule where the trapos take turns in plundering the country,” the document stated.

“Only the new leaders like Sen. Trillanes and Gen. Lim should appear at the helm during the proclamation. The trapos (traditional politicians), especially the so-called ‘presidentiables’ should stay in the background,” read the documents entitled “Proposed Program.”

The proposed program also laid out the moves for a transition government, among them the use of an “iron fist” to crush the resistance of pro-Arroyo groups and immediate implementation of policies to limit bank withdrawals and foreign exchange controls.

“A constitutional commission to draft a new constitution would also be established. A transitory constitution similar to the Freedom Constitution of President Corazon Aquino would temporarily be followed,” the documents said.

The documents also stated that “to avert disruption of government operations, local executives who are not notorious for corruption and abuse of authority may remain in the post on an interim basis, provided they cooperate with the new government.”

The document added that “a National Transition Council would control the new government until, in the council’s own estimation, the situation has peacefully subsided in order to call for elections.”

Officials noted the salient points of the document are the seizure of the media and to use it to launch a vigorous campaign “to restore our sense of national pride and self-respect.”

The plan calls for the media to be taken out from the supposed control of big advertisers and its management would be placed under the control of so-called independent boards.

“The media profession should be exhorted to cleanse its ranks of extortionists, mendacious reporters and purveyors of cynicism and colonial mentality,” the proposed program stated.

The documents were seized from the group of Trillanes and Lim after a failed rebellion that ended at the Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City last Nov. 29.

A veteran police investigator said copies of the documents will be presented as among the evidence in the rebellion case against Trillanes and the 36 other accused.

“We will use it (documents) to further strengthen the rebellion and inciting to rebellion cases against Trillanes, Lim and the other accused,” said the investigator.

Trillanes and Lim led dozens of soldiers in walking out of a court hearing on the 2003 Oakwood mutiny and marched across the crowded streets of Makati before seizing the five-star Peninsula Manila hotel.

Government troops later stormed the hotel and quelled the rebellion, ending the six-hour standoff and arrested Trillanes and Lim along with other civilian supporters that included former Vice President Teofisto Guingona and two priests.

Among the civilians arrested by police at the hotel for allegedly supporting the rebel soldiers was a woman romantically linked in the past to Jose Maria Sison, founder of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

‘Crazy’

The communist National Democratic Front (NDF) hailed Trillanes and Lim for staging the day-long siege in their call for the ouster of President Arroyo.

In a statement, NDF chairman Luis Jalandoni said the seizure of the hotel was not a coup against Mrs. Arroyo but merely a protest action against her administration.

“A real coup would have involved an attempt to capture the President and take over installations of her political power,” Jalandoni said.

Jalandoni said the government is “crazy” in treating the hotel takeover as a coup since the incident was “isolated.”

The NDF, though, denied the CPP-NPA supported and took part in the plan to take over the hotel.

“The CPP or the NPA has nothing to do with the planning and implementation of the takeover of Manila Peninsula hotel by the group of Gen. Lim and Sen. Trillanes,” Jalandoni said.

At the same time, Jalandoni denounced the arrest of Elizabeth Principe, an NDF consultant.

Jalandoni also branded as without basis the reports that Myrna Buendia, who was among those arrested inside the hotel, was a lover of Sison.

“We were informed that Mrs. Myrna Buendia was a mere bystander during the Manila Peninsula incident. It is utterly malicious for the officials of the Arroyo regime to keep on violating her right as private (citizen) and family life,” Jalandoni said.

Authorities presented Principe before the media as one of those being investigated for her possible connection to the standoff.

The military tagged Principe as a ranking leader of the CPP-NPA who was on a “very important mission” when she was arrested in Makati a day before the Peninsula siege.

Buendia, on the other hand, was arrested inside the hotel after the six-hour standoff.

Authorities said Buendia is a member of the CPP-NPA who had close personal relations with Sison.

Buendia denied being a CPP-NPA member and supporting Trillanes and his group.

She, however, admitted Sison was her boyfriend, whom she had not seen for 37 years.

Buendia said she is married to Rizal Buendia, a professor at the De La Salle University.

She also claimed to have worked at the labor department. She also claimed being a former executive director of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines and retired as vice president of the Chinese General Hospital.

Buendia was one of the principal reasons why authorities alleged that the CPP-NPA helped Trillanes and Lim in seizing the Peninsula Manila last Nov. 29.

‘Let the courts decide’

The Senate, on the other hand, is still divided on whether to impose sanctions on their erring member.

The Senate ethics committee chaired by Sen. Pia Cayetano is preparing to deliberate on the resolution filed by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago seeking to reprimand, suspend or expel Trillanes for conduct unbecoming of a senator.

Sen. Joker Arroyo said the Senate has no jurisdiction over Trillanes since he was charged for rebellion.

“We must respect the separation of powers. Both the legislative and the executive branches do not have jurisdiction over him now, only the courts,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo explained the earlier resolution passed by the Senate supporting Trillanes’ petition to serve his mandate did not have any bearing when the courts decided on the issue.

He said Trillanes brought all these troubles upon himself when he led the Peninsula siege under which he must face the consequences of his act.

Aside from Santiago, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan and Sen. Richard Gordon were in favor of having Trillanes punished by the Senate for his actions.

But opposition senators that included Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. said they will not support any moves to expel Trillanes.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said he would block efforts to punish Trillanes although he condemned the siege as a radical effort to seek changes in government.

Arroyo and Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile also said those who would revolt against the government should make sure they would win, otherwise they would have to suffer in jail.

“Any revolt, if it succeeds is legal. If you lose, sorry,” Arroyo quipped. – With Perseus Echeminada and Aurea Calica