PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — New charges will be filed against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and the rest of the mutinous soldiers in the takeover of Manila Peninsula Hotel.
President Arroyo thus vowed as she thanked the police and the military for the effective and fast resolution of the standoff in Makati .
“Ating iniutos na pawiin ang anumang mga bantang nalalabi upang mapa-iral nang lubusan ang batas at kaayusan. Dapat walang duda sa pag-iral ng batas sa bansang ito, at sa kakayahan ng pamahalaan na iaptupad ang tama laban sa mali ,” the President said in a televised address shortly after the end of the crisis.
Meanwhile, Vice President Noli de Castro urged the immediate release of mediamen arrested after it is detemined that they were not part of the rebellion or sedition.
“Ang mali at ligaw na gawain ng iilan ay hindi nangungusap para sa taong bayan o sa hukbo at kapulisan. Gaya ng dati, ipapataw sa kanila ang buong tindi ng katarungan nang buong higpit at walang palugit,” she said.
The President called for an end to destabilization attempts against her administration, saying there should be no distraction in efforts to fight poverty and ensure justice for all.
“Paulit-ulit nating ipinamalas sa mundo ang katatagan ng mga institusyon ng ating demokrasya at ang kalakasan nitong pamahalaan. Saligan ng ating matatag na republika ang malakas na ekonomiya na buong itinataguyod ng sambayanang Pilipino,” she added.
“Walang patid ang linya ng panunungkulan ng Sandatahang Lakas; at patuloy ang ating mga kawal at pulis sa kanilang makabayani at mapagmalasakit na paglilingkod sa buong bansa. Nananalig tayo sa mga naka-uniporme sa kanilang pagtataguyod ng lehitimong awtoridad at mahal na watawat,” she said.
Curfew imposed
The government has imposed a curfew beginning last midnight until 5 a.m. today.
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the curfew would be imposed in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and the Region 4A.
Puno said the imposition of a curfew was meant to allow law enforcement authorities to continue to pursue follow-up operations following the Makati episode
Whether the curfew would be re-imposed for a second day would be announced on a day-to-day basis, he said.
“The curfew is a necessary inconvenience to ensure the return to peace and order is permanent and will not recur,” he said.
The DILG chief said the curfew is also for the benefit of the public who may be inconvenienced as they pass through various military and police check points.
“Unless there is specific reason they should avoid moving around,” he said.