Anti-Arroyo plotters arrested

Manila: An ageing retired general and former defence chief, Fortunato Abat, who had formed a transition government on Wednesday to replace President Gloria Arroyo was arrested yesterday.

Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested Abat? Roy Señeres, former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, ex-budget secretary Salvador Enriquez and other members of the transition government at the Waling-Waling Room of Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, at 11 in the morning.

Other members of the arresting team passed through the fire exit of Club Filipino as a reinforcement force.

A heavy phalanx of policemen escorted Abat, Señeres, Enriquez, and their companions as they boarded an Isuzu vehicle, which brought them to the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame in suburban Quezon City, said Senior Inspector Victor Loon.

At the start, Abat and Señeres resisted arrest, claiming that the police officers did not have arrest warrants.

Explaining what happened, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said, "We implemented a citizen's arrest, This was a legal action. It was based on evidence that the former defence chief violated the law."

After Abat underwent questioning in Camp Crame, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez filed charges of inciting to sedition against him and his companions.

If convicted, they will be imprisoned from three to four years. They will be allowed temporary freedom after paying a $375 (Dh1376) bail bond.

Justice Gonzales also ordered the prosecutors to resolve an earlier sedition complaint filed against Abat in June.

Earlier, in a radio interview, Abat said he would talk to Senator Rodolfo Biazon, who chairs the Senate committee on national defence and security, former senator Gregorio Honasan, who led several coup attempts during the time of former president Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1989, and former defence secretary Renato de Villa who was reported to be a leader of another destabilisation group.

After declaring the formation of the "First Council of Leaders Conference" to seek military support to oust President Arroyo late Tuesday night, Abat went home for a while, but then returned to Club Filipino, where he gave a deadline for Arroyo to step down.

Abat said his companions, former San Miguel Corp director Emmanuel Cruz would head the transition government's sector; former finance and budget secretary Salvador Enriquez would head the public-service sector; and Seneres, the security and justice sector.

Relatives relieved of military posts

The Armed Forces have relieved Abat's eldest son, Colonel Victor Abat, as deputy commander of the Army's 702nd Infantry Brigade in Nueva Ecija in central Luzon.

The young Abat was behind the passing of text messages talking about destabilising the government, said Armed Forces Public Information chief, Colonel Tristan Kison.

Marine Lieutenant Colonel Junuario Caringal was also relieved because his brother, a ranking police officer, is married to Abat's daughter. Caringal was transferred as commander of the Marines Support and Escort group.

Army Captain Nicanor Faeldon who had escaped after his case was heard in Makati City on Wednesday, has not yet joined the transition government, Abat said.

Faeldon was one of the junior military officers who staged a short-lived mutiny by taking over the Oakwood Hotel in 2003.