MANILA: The Philippine army tightened security yesterday after finding a bomb in its top military academy, one of the alleged targets in a plot to overthrow and possibly kill the president, military sources said.The device, loaded with 5 lbs (about 2 kg) of TNT, was found late on Saturday (Sunday NZT) hidden in a clutch bag near the parade ground at the Philippine Military Academy, where President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was meant to attend an annual reunion this weekend.
The academy's superintendent declined to confirm the discovery.
"We are still investigating," Brigadier General Leopoldo Maligalig said by telephone.
Arroyo, who is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, skipped the gathering in the mountain resort of Baguio, about 250km (160 miles) north of Manila, after the coup plot by fugitive mutineers was revealed this week.
Arroyo survived an impeachment attempt last year over allegations of vote-rigging and fraud.
The explosive was discovered only hours after the reunion of the academy's graduates, including the army's top commanders.
Earlier this week, Reuters, quoting two senior generals, reported details of a plot to unseat and possibly kill Arroyo.
The plan involved a mass escape of mutineers originally set for January, hostage-taking at the weekend gathering of military commanders, occupying army camps and removing Arroyo.
On Sunday, the commander of the police's elite force issued a statement denying rumours his troops were planning to storm the main police camp in Manila and hold top police commanders hostage as part of a strike against Arroyo.
"Our ranks remain intact," said Chief Superintendant Marcelino Franco, who was called to a meeting with the head of the police on Sunday to discuss the rumours.
Talk of a plot by some elements of the military has been growing since the escape from an army camp in January of four alleged leaders of a bloodless, one-day mutiny in 2003.
Rumours of unrest are common in the Philippines after a dozen coup attempts in the past 20 years and popular uprisings backed by the army that toppled presidents in 1986 and 2001.
Police in Manila went on heightened but not maximum alert on Friday over reports of large anti-Arroyo protests planned for February 24, the day before the country marks the 20th anniversary of the "people power" revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos.