(Semi-live coverage) Sen.Trillanes and Gen.Danny Lim break out of Makati RTC
News that something would happen today started making the text rounds last night but it still came as a surprise. I thought that if any action would happen it would be in conjunction with the rally being called by bishops and other civic leaders for tomorrow.
So far, Malacanan is reacting calmly to the break-out of Trillanes and Lim. They seem to be confident that the move by the detained soldiers will fizzle out. PNP Chief Razon is in Camp Crame monitoring the situation. He said they have put up check points. Norbie Gonzalez, on DZMM radio, is treating it as a simple propaganda war. The government channel is still airing Home Shopping Network.
Except for former VP Guingona, Bishop Tobias, and a priest no other opposition political figure has joined the Trillanes/Lim group.
If this thing fizzles out, people might stay away from tomorrow’s rallies.
(UPDATE) 12:00 PM
The soldiers have just entered the Manila Penninsula. What is this fixation with hotels among putschists? The food supply, in case they have to hold out for a few days.
Vivian Yuchengco, Philippine Stock Exchange director and close friend of Mike Arroyo, said, “If you don’t cover it, they will go away” She added, “If I were the one, I would put snipers on them. Really.”
AFGMA chief, Mr. Esperon, said, “We intend to terminate this commotion as soon as possible.”
AFGMA spokesman said that MP guards did not flip. They were ordered to stay with their prisoners.
Gilbert Teodoro, “I want to reassure our people, we will apply the full force of the law”
(Update)12:30 PM
Emergency cabinet meeting being called.
Pro-Arroyo counter-coup troops from Camp Aguinaldo start arriving in Makati.
Civilians called to gather at Ninoy Aquino monument in Ayala. But that’s Linda Montayre making the call.
WHERE IS ERAP?
Sen. Biazon on the air with Ricky Carandang of ANC,
“Are you in touch with any of the soldiers?”
“No comment.”
“Where are you now?”
“No comment”
“I noticed you are neither condemning nor supporting this action…”
“This is not the time to comment”
On the Erap question - someone just texted me to say, “Erap hapi. Danny Lim is Erap boy.”
Aaah…
Guingona on 3G making one of his classic clenched right fist speeches.
SWAT teams in full battle gear deployed in NLEX and SLEX.
(UPDATE) 1:00 PM
Senators express support for rule of law and constitutional processes. Bakit kulang pa ba ang pambababoy sa constitution? Anong rule of law? The senators are afraid to support this ouster openly because if it fails, they will be charged. So they are assuring its failure by playing safe. Mga walang bayag!
(UPDATE) !:37 PM
PNP NCR chief Barias orders evacuation of hotel. Arrest will be carried out soon, daw.
Erap says, I know nothink.
Malacanan Press Con. with Bunye, Apostol, and Lito Atienza.
Apostol says arrest order issued by Justice secretary.
It’s a clown show. Lito Atienza is delivering a sermon on the role of the Church in politics.
The clown show is now turning into a full pledged carnival. Dureza, Teves, and Favila just walked in. Are FVR and JDV far behind?
Bunye announces that the military is still firmly chained to the chain of command.
Apostol clarifies a point. The walk-out happened during a recess in the trial so the arrest order is for contempt of court.
Dureza says there is a public clamor to end this. He must have been referring to Vivian Yuchengco.
Favila says he just came with Teves from PSE. The market is calm.
Teves, “just like what Favila said. The economic fundamentals are good. They can withstand this temporary disturbance.”
“What’s the President’s reaction when she heard the news?”
Bunye, “We know she’s hands on. She’s cool, calm as she issued her directives.”
“Was she hiding under a table?”
Heh,heh. That’s only me wondering.
Tonypwet Albano shows up to read statements of support from governors and other local officials. Laguna governor says, “Laguna is with you.”
Tonypwet adds, “90 percent of governors behind GMA. League of Mayors head, Abalos, issued statement of support.”
“Tinig ng 1500 municipal mayors meeting in Cebu expressed support,” according to Atienza.
Raul Gonzales arrives. The SOB looks well. Looks like the kidney has reached a modus vivendi with him.
“I came here to answer some questions in connection with this development in Makati.”
“What specific charges?”
“At this point contempt. The court issued a warrant of arrest for their arrest. The warrant is addressed to ALL peace officers.”
“It’s quite clear there is a connivance between this civilian group and renegade soldiers.”
“What is this plot?”
“I don’t know I’ve only been reading about it this last few days.”
“What about Guingona?”
“He’s too old to be sent to jail.”
“Is there a need to declare a state of emergency?”
“No need.”
“How grave is this situation?”
“We have control of the situation.”
“What do you call this incident?”
“It’s a situation.”
“Seriously?”
“It can ripen into sedition etc. But you must consider that these people have this toxic in them so it is continuing…”
Mayor from Candaba who happened to be in Malacanan to deliver parols for Mrs. Arroyo is invited to speak. He gives a short sermon on progress, unity behind corrupt government etc. Sermon from the Swampland..
(MEANWHILE BACK AT THE PEN) 2:27 PM
PNP NCR chief Barias enters hotel. He is blocked by Magdalo boys from proceeding to the area occupied by Lim and Trillanes.
“We will effect arrest at 3 PM. If they resist the appropriate action will be taken against them. We are asking everyone to evacuate for their own safety.”
“Gen. Ticman will effect the arrest. There was no negotiation. We just delivered the message.”
Guests are leaving, boarding coasters. APCs surround hotel.
(MEANWHILE AT THE MAKATI STOCK EXCHANGE)
Is that Vivian Yuchengco riding a tank? Is that Donald Dee setting fire to Ninoy’s monument?
(AT ANC)
Larry Mendoza being interviewed. It’s a waste of time
(BACK AT THE SCENE)
APCs moving in.
3 PM na!
Wala pa din nangyayari.
Is the chain of command breaking down?
Civilian supporters of Trillanes begin to converge at Ninoy monument. Linggoy Alcuaz says some of tomorrow’s rallyist will begin their demo today, at Ninoy’s monument.
(MEANWHILE AT NBN)
“Yun 3 PM deadline ay working deadline lang naman eh…”
(TEXT FROM MY MOLE)
“Major service commanders cannot be located. Many officers on leave. Not known if AWOL or not.”
(AT THE BATASAN)
Reps. Lagman and Villafuerte volunteer as sandbags.
(AT THE PENN)
PNP SAF dressed and ready to go. Just awaiting the signal from Barias.
(3:36 PM)
Trillanes just went down to lobby….heading towards hotel entrance… Big commotion…Media going crazy…Trillanes walking but keeping mum so far…Now he’s walked up to the second floor again…and he’s back at the command center…
What was that all about???
(NBN) 3:40 PM
Live shot of a Magdalo soldier on lobby staircase talking to Barias. Behind Magdalo soldier is another heavily armed soldier.
Aahhh…Trillanes went down to tell his people to allow guests to leave hotel.
Gen. Lim, “Sama sama tayo sa laban na ito. Kung meron na nanggugulo ay yan ang liderato ng bansang ito….Hindi kami aalis dito hanggang hindi natatapus ito”
“Sino ang bagong liderato?”
“Lilitaw yan.”
(3:52 PM)
APCs are moving towards the Penn. Shots of SWAT troopers shown chatting on their cell phones…Barias says it’s going to happen anytime soon….
I’m surprised there are no politicians volunteering to negotiate a peaceful solution to this “situation” as Bunye puts it.
(4:00 PM)
Soldiers in attacking formation at intersection of Makati Ave and Ayala.
SHOTS FIRED!!!
V 150s moving…
Some soldiers hiding behind GMA TV remote telecast van….
Magdalo closes lobby entrance…
Media trapped inside hotel look nervous…
(4:13 PM)
Assault troops looking for way into Penn property…
APCs moving into driveway of hotel….
Trillanes on the phone:
“We have news of troops moving in” Pia Hontiveros
“We have to wait and see what happens…” Trillanes.
“Are you ready for whatever..?”
“We’ll see what happens…”Trillanes
“What are orders for your people if the government troops move in?”
“I told them to do what they feel is right,” Trillanes
Wasted interview. by Pia Hontiveros and Tony Velasquez.
(4:45 PM)
Col. Jaime Calungsod, classmate of Gen. Danny Lim, is hoping for a phone call from his classmate telling him he will surrender peacefully.
But windows are being broken…trapped media are all on the floor…they don’t know if teargas or bullets are coming….
It’s teargas
(4:55 PM)
Guingona on ABS-CBN, suffering from effects of teargas says call for sobriety is a bit late,
Media crowded around rebel command center. Pinky Webb affected by tear gas and sounds scared….having difficulty talking…
(IN MALACANAN, BUNYE HOLDS A PARADE OF QUISLINGS)
Reminds me of what I wrote two weeks ago,
“Over the weekend, I received an alarming text that confirmed rumors that the soldiers are losing patience and a bloody civil war is in the offing if civil society delays on its duty to oust Gloria through impeachment or people power. …
“We are foolishly marching towards civil war, the most uncivil of wars, because we continue to buy the lie that human beings will tolerate injustice as long as they have a full stomach. History does not suffer fools gladly.”
(5:09 PM)
Trillanes and Lim and some of their comrades could die within the next few minutes and then what? If civil society does not get its act together, then the reds and radical soldiers will dictate the direction of the struggle. The first step towards civil war have been taken…
Assault force is trying to drive APC through Lobby entrance. They just did.
Media pandemonium on rebel floor.
NASAAN ANG MGA LIDER NG OPPOSISYON?
(5:15 PM)
Just got a text: “Gilmore Ave. near St. Paul College, QC is packed with marching masa. Erap is their battle cry.”
(5:24 PM)
Trillanes and Lim are surrendering now. But they have not given up…
(5:35 PM) AT THE DWARF’S LAIR
Andaya congratulated the soldiers for maximum tolerance. The only one who got hurt was the main entrance of the hotel - it was rammed by a tolerant tank out to serve a warrant for contempt of court..
Apostol, “Trillanes, go back to barracks. The LP had their convention, the NP had theirs and now you had yours.”
Norberto Gonzalez, “This is not the last we will hear from Trillanes yadda yadda woof woof…”
(5:45 PM) BACK AT THE PENN
The rebel group went back to the room to wait for the tear gas to clear. They are concerned the tear gas might harm Bishop Labayen and other innocent civilians who may be allergic to tear gas.
(MEANWHILE)
“WHO’S GOING TO PAY FOR OUR DOOR?” Manila Penn wants to know.
AT THE PENN LOBBY
Maximum tolerant soldiers order media camera men to lie on floor.
“Just stay put and no harm will come to you,” said a tolerant soldier.
Pinky Webb is threatened with arrest. Police want to take her to Bicutan. They confiscated the videos her camera crew took.
“Sir, ano ba ang charge sa amin?” Pinky
“Titignan pa namin kung ano.” Policeman Asher Dolina, the man suspected of involvement in the forging of Garci’s passport. “Huwag mo na questioning ang processo namin. We will release after we process you. Yan ang utos sa amin.”
Korina Sanchez to Ces Drilon, “Ces, hindi ka ba binabantaan ng autoridad na arestuhin ka tulad ni Pinky?”
Ces, “Hindi pa naman. Sabi nga nga namin na pahiramin kami ng gas mask para makalabas na kami. Meron naman silang mga gas mask.”
(6:14 PM)
Guingona, Bishop Labayen and civil society folks are seen walking out of the hotel.
Korina Interviews Guingona.
“Kasama po ninyo sina Sen. Trillanes?”
“Hindi nagkahiwalay kami.”
BACK TO PINKY
“Hindi ako sasama sa Bicutan.”
Video tapes of other media organizations also confiscated.
(6:19 PM)
Trillanes in handcuffs is dragged and brought to an NCRPO prisoner bus. Guingona, without handcuffs, is taken to the bus. Danny Lim in handcuffs taken to the bus. Bishop Labayen and Fr. Robert Reyes taken to bus.
Members of ABS-CBN news crew are handcuffed. All other media members are taken to prisoner bus. They will be processed in Bicutan.
Now the bus is overcrowded and some detainees may have to be undetained to make room for who knows who else. Ah nilipat pala sa ibang bus. And now the buses are moving out…
(6:45 PM) ON NBN
Bishop Ramon Villena condemns those involved in the “situation”. He adds that the prelates involved do not speak for the majority of the CBCP, who like him, is on Gloria’s payroll.
FVR, taped earlier, insists that the best option is to keep GMA in power.
THE DWARF WILL MAKE A STATEMENT SOON…
She just made her statement -
(Paraphrased) “I want to thank the AFGMA (Armed Forces of GMA) and the PNP (Pulis Ni Pidal) for saving my ass once again. Now it’s time to unite behind me once again as I continue to plunder the nation.”
OVER AND OUT.
But wait… Ronaldo Puno announces CURFEW FROM 12:00 AM TO 5:00 A.M for Metro-Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon. The PNP, assisted by AFGMA, will enforce it… so it’s not over yet?
Ellen Tordesillas was in there with them and Schumey blogs it too
on November 29th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Marines are moving, I don’t know which side they’re on.
on November 29th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
during Marcos time anong sabi USA “cut cut cleanly”
Preparatory to Erap’s ouster sa mga rallies nakikita mo mga US trained Pinoy’s actively supporting.
Yong nagkakaso si Trillanes at may semblance of civilian support led by Honasan walang nangyari kasi walang suporta ang kano..
Ito mas lalo na, may mga sniper na raw. ano ang tawag dun qualateral damage? if ever they will be part of the statistics.
Ang clear lang dito failure of intellegence, san napunta at intellegence fund.
Or alam pero pinabayaan para maiba naman ang pagusapan.
on November 29th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Hehehe..yes, that’s how she conducts her business, under the table.
on November 29th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
“BRAVERY,like cowardice,is contagious!”
on November 29th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Let Sen. Trillanes and company know that majority of OFWs here in KSA support their armed struggle against the corrupt regime of the equally corrupt and FAKE president… God bless, and we pray to the Lord Almighty to cover you with His blood that no harm will come upon you and to all our freedom loving kababayans who are at the forefront of this brave undertaking.
Isang napakagandang pamasko para sa aming mga OFWs sampu ng aming mga pamilya kung magtatagumpay kayo na PATALSIKIN.. NOW NA! ang illegal occupant ng malakanyang na siyang dahilan ng kahirapan at kaguluhan sa ating bansa!
on November 29th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Asan na ang mga tao na dapat tumulong kina Trillanes. Yung maiingay diyan nawala lahat. I’m crying here in the Middle East while watching GMA news dahil nag-aksaya lang ng panahon ang grupo. Kung ang karamihan sa Pilipino ay walang tutulong, we deserve the kind of government we have. I’m so angry.
on November 29th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Was that it?? As much as I look forward to a new governance, I have to say this “stand” Trillanes and co. took was lame. What a shame. Without a clear plan of action, what could have been an inspired incident just appears as a vanity protest, if not cam-whoring. It didn’t even add anything new to fuel the public’s silent dissent; it did the opposite.
on November 29th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
huntmea,
The military quickly deployed and prevented the people from getting near the area.
on November 29th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Hangga ngayon nanginginig ako sa galit dahil yung mga tao diyan iniwanan na naman sa ere sina Trillanes. Senator Trillanes, if I were you I’ll just stop doing what you’re doing. You’re just wasting your time. Wala namang tutulong sa iyo. Where are the people who voted for you? I’m one of those but far away working as a slave in another country.
on November 29th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
peanut gallery,
you sound like sergio apostol
on November 29th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Schumey,
I appreciate the military is following orders, but is there no else among them who has any compassion and who realizes that not all orders are right? Our country is going down to the sewers and yet the public, the military, the church are silent. Pathetic.
on November 29th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
*snort* Apostol draws boos from this gallery, ftr.
I was glued to the reportage from 1130am til now. I particularly look forward to hearing what Trillanes had to say, creating a spectacle like this. Unfortunately, the very few occasions he spoke, he lacked emotional conviction, it almost seemed he was on auto-pilot with memorized lines. It was strange to see him grasp for words.
It is actually a disppointment how this was planned out. But really– was it surprising that the alleged supporters were blocked and couldn’t get in? Shouldn’t you secure how committed your allies (if any) are before jumping into this? Was it surprising they were gassed?? Were they really relying on the public to physically protect them from gov’t forces?? And he’s a soldier, for crying out loud. So, with all these logistical uncertainties in the equation, and he still forges on with this coup, what was his intention?
And it doesn’t help he keeps harping that they’re stepping down to protect the media from getting harmed. I suppose it can be a graceful exit, but, being that everyone knows he *invited* these people to go with him and could easily have made them leave, it seems cowardly.
It really is disappointing. If he clearly relayed what his action meant to do, and how thought out it was, I would’ve showed up in support.
And for an occasion like this to end with the question “Who’s going to pay for our door?” it shows how Trillanes squandered some value of what a true revolt is with his premature attempt. That’s my beef with him.
on November 29th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”Martin Luther King Jr.
on November 29th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
[...] Sonus refers everyone to pictures from SunnySideUp! A website supportive of the coup attempt is online while Stuart-Santiago, Uniffors, and the Philippine Experience liveblogged the military adventure. [...]
on November 29th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
[...] Sonus refers everyone to pictures from SunnySideUp! A website supportive of the coup attempt is online while Stuart-Santiago, Uniffors, and the Philippine Experience liveblogged the military adventure. [...]
on November 29th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
huntmea
The stupid doctrine of chain of command has reduced our military to an army of robots. They simply follow blindly without thinking.
on November 29th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
[...] From Manuel Buencamino, a plaintive cry: “NASAAN ANG MGA LIDER NG OPPOSISYON?” [...]
on November 30th, 2007 at 12:37 am
It’s not over.
on November 30th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Goose Question, Manuel! “NASAAN ANG MGA LIDER NG OPOSISYON?!”
“iniwan sa ere..”, ‘…niluto sa sariling mantika’,— Mga pinoy na kataga na iisa ang kahulugan: NILOKO!
Ganyan ang ginawa kay trillanes–niloko sya ng oposisyon.
May text na umikot at natanggap ko kagabi Hayaan nyong ibahagi ko rin dito:
“….advsory: effective tonite d magdalo grp of trillanes rplces d ramboys of gringo as the new KUPALTERS!”
on November 30th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Manuel,
Sorry to say this but I believe Lim and Trillanes were out of their mind to do something impromptu like this — of course, from afar there is a tendency to see their action as useless.
on November 30th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Anna,
You may be right but you know I live by these words:
“In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: Not necessarily to Win, but mainly to keep from Losing Completely” - Hunter S. Thompson.
on November 30th, 2007 at 10:44 am
“Technically that is not an arrest(i.e.,mass arrests and handcuffing of journalists covering the Trillanes story). That is a processing,” Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said.
“Oh Mortal Man, is there nothing you cannot be made to believe?Josef Goebbel, Minister of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda
on November 30th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Gilbert Teodoro, “I want to reassure our people, we will apply the full force of the law”
Why don’t you also say this to those corrupt in the government whether in the military or the civilians in the government, Mr. Teodoro?
on December 1st, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Thank you Sen. Trillanes and company..
on December 3rd, 2007 at 11:27 pm
[...] Let me jot down some notes about what took place last Thursday. A good digest of the day’s events, and various reactions (official and private, including the statement of Manila Peninsula’s PR guy; what no one will say on the record, is that the hotel only got control of the property back on Friday morning, and there are allegations of the cops looting the hotel and partying it up in the rooms: the rebels had occupied only one function room and brought along their own provisions of bread and sardines; it would help if the authorities could debunk these shocking allegations) can be found in Wikipedia’s Manila Peninsula mutiny page. Entertaining live blogging took place at Uniffors. [...]
on July 16th, 2008 at 8:31 am
i am the pastour mena of peru i want to know if you can give me and my church coverage please answer me.
on July 16th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
dear pastor mena,
we do not have any correspondents in Peru. Sorry.