Failed mutiny brings senator up on charges

MANILA, Philippines -- Police named an opposition senator as a leader of last week's failed military mutiny, charging him, four senior officers and two civilians Monday with backing the attempt to topple President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, now in hiding, is the highest official so far to be implicated in the July 27 uprising by more than 350 officers and enlisted men, who took over a ritzy apartment building and mall in the heart of Manila's financial district.

Maverick officer

"Definitely, he's one of the leaders," Interior Secretary Jose Lina said of Honasan, a former maverick army officer who staged two attempted coups in the 1980s.

"The soldiers were not acting by themselves," Lina told a news conference, adding that the goal of the mutiny was "to grab political power."

Lina said investigators believe as many as 1,000 other people were involved in the uprising.

Honasan is a leader of a private fraternity of former military officials and civilians called Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc., which opposes Arroyo's rule. The group, which includes some former military rebels, accuses Arroyo's government of corruption and incompetence.

Many of those suspected in the failed mutiny are believed to be members of the group.

Others charged on Monday with Honasan were identified as Capt. Felix Turingan, Col. Briones, Col. Lazo, retired Col. Ernest Macahiya and civilians Lina Reyes and George Duldulao -- reportedly an aide of Honasan -- Lina said. He did not elaborate on their alleged involvement or give the full names of some.

They were charged with involvement in a coup d'etat, charges that carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Witness speaks

Police gave prosecutors the sworn statement of one witness, Perfecto Ragil, who claimed Honasan met with some of the mutineers on June 4 and advocated the use of force to achieve reforms.

After the meeting, Honasan and the mutineers allegedly drew blood from their arms with a knife as a show of solidarity, according to Ragil, a military employee who said he attended the meeting but backed out from joining the mutiny.

Honasan denied the charges. "I was never in any secret meeting where there was a blood compact, where the plot to launch the incident took place," he told reporters in a telephone interview, refusing to say where he was.

Honasan, 55, helped lead the "people power" revolt that ousted late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and swept Corazon Aquino to the presidency in 1986. He later led at least two coup attempts against Aquino, was arrested once for his coup role, but escaped from a prison ship. He won a senate seat in 1995.

Last week, prosecutors filed coup charges against the more than 300 mutineers, who are being held in military detention.

and a former aide of ousted President Joseph Estrada.