(2nd UPDATE) PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of emergency Friday to quell a military uprising that sought to overthrow her administration.Arroyo's declaration is contained in Proclamation 1017, which she signed after a lengthy meeting with Cabinet members and police and military officials in Malacañang, Press Secertary Ignacio Bunye said.
In the declaration released to media at 11:20 a.m., Arroyo invoked Section 18, Article 7 of the Constitution that allowed the President to call on the armed forces to prevent or suppress rebellion.
The proclamation will also pave the way for warrantless arrests, government takeover of utilities, including media, and a ban on rallies, Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor said.
Arroyo said that over the past months, “elements in the political opposition had conspired with authoritarians of the extreme Left represented by the [National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army] and the extreme Right, represented by military adventurists -- the historic enemies of the democratic Philippine State -- who are now in a tactical alliance and engaged in a concerted and systematic conspiracy, over a broad front, to bring down the duly constituted government elected in May 2004.”
She also noted that "the claims of these elements had been recklessly magnified by certain segments of the national media.”
She said these series of actions were hurting the country “by obstructing governance, including hindering the growth of the economy and sabotaging the people’s confidence in government.”
Arroyo said the situation was under control.
Earlier on Friday, Defensor said authorities were hunting down 8 to 10 civilians and military officers allegedly linked to the coup plot, including their financiers.
Reporters covered the President's declaration from the Arlegui guesthouse, a few meters away from the Palace.
I hope the bad guys are not the Hucks. I had one of those folks as an instructor in jungle survival school. Smart, tough, and quiet. Invisible when they wanted to be. Not the sort of enemy I would choose.