Cojuangco linked to coup plot

Manila: The brother of former president Corazon Aquino, former Congressman Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, was linked to the failed coup against President Arroyo, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Another civilian, Pastor Saycon, organiser of the Council of Philippine Affairs (COPA) which was formerly pro-Arroyo in 2001, was also part of the failed coup plot, said Bunye in a radio interview.

"This conspiracy started weeks before the EDSA [celebration last Friday] and everything was leading towards violence, a big incident to oust the president on February 25," Bunye said.

The government is planning to take action against the two leaders, including possible arrest, said Bunye, but did not give details.

Cojuangco is the head of the Philippine Olympic Committee. Saycon has been "flirting" with coup plotters since his group assisted in the launching of a military-backed street protest that paved the way for the ouster of former president Joseph Estrada in January 2001.

Bunye cited a report of Time Magazine, a regional news magazine, which wrote in detail what transpired during the meeting of Cojuangco and Saycon at the former's house last Thursday.

The report said Saycon met with other "ring leaders" at Cojuangco's house to discuss plans for a "withdrawal of support" from President Arroyo.

Saycon spoke over the phone to a person whom he identified as an American official in Washington, the report said, adding that Saycon assured the official about the new government by saying, "You [the US] will still be our friend, not China."

Saycon reportedly phoned Army Brigadier Gen Danny Lim, who was called "Delta," to get a confirmation from the latter about the plan of his brigade to march to EDSA on February 24.

Saycon predicted that a group of soldiers would march to the EDSA Shrine on Friday morning, join a group of Catholic bishops who were to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ouster of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, the report said.

A Marine general would then read a statement about the withdrawal of support for the administration, the Time report said.

"I would say that it was an act of bravado on the part of Saycon to have invited a reporter of Time Magazine to hear about the preparations for a coup," Bunye said, adding that Cojuangco and Saycon were confident about the success of the failed plot.

"I think it would be careless if we don't take action against the two leaders of this meeting because it is clear that their intention was to conspire with other elements to overthrow the government," Bunye said.