Philippines Declares State of Rebellion

M A N I L A, Philippines, May 1, 2001 -- The government declared a state ofrebellion and ordered the arrest of key opposition figures todayafter clashes between police and backers of ousted President JosephEstrada killed at least four people.

"This is not just a demonstration. This is a rebellion,"government spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said.

He said the declaration by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,restricted to Manila, gives her greater power to halt rebellion buthe did not say what those powers are. It also gives the militarygreater freedom to help police quell protests.

At least four people died today as thousands of Estradasupporters, armed with rocks and clubs, skirmished with policearound the presidential palace.

Fighting subsided in the afternoonafter many protesters backed off, setting fire to a backhoe, fourvans, a police car and a fire truck in their path.

At least 12 policemen, a newspaper photographer and 25 civilianswere injured and 30 protesters were arrested, police said.

Arrests Ordered

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez ordered the arrest of at least11 key opposition figures today, including Sens. Gringo Honasanand Juan Ponce Enrile, former Estrada spokesman Ernesto Maceda andformer National Police Chief Panfilo Lacson.

Enrile, one of Estrada's most prominent allies, was the firstarrested but police were looking for the others, said Col. ReynaldoBerroya, the police intelligence chief.

Lacson, who is running in May 14 Senate elections, said he toldhis lawyers to question the arrest order.

Berroya said the arrests were ordered in connection with theprotests but did not outline the accusations.

Most of those on the wanted list have large followings among thepro-Estrada protesters.

Arroyo Survives Ordeal

Today also marked was the second time in as many days that Arroyosurvived an attempt to force her from office and reinstall Estrada.

She claimed he and his allies incensed supporters in an effort toseize power for their own benefit.

Arroyo earlier accused key opposition figures, without namingthem, of plotting to overthrow her and establish a junta.

"The vandalism, robbery and injury and deaths are the work ofthese politicians," Arroyo, looking exhausted after a secondconsecutive sleepless night, said in a brief nationally televisedstatement.

"They should be blamed. It is clear that their theme is tobring down the legitimate government so ... they would establishtheir own junta."

Violence Near Presidential Palace

Associated Press reporters saw seven people with what appearedto be gunshot wounds from pre-dawn clashes on the 10-mile march tothe presidential palace from a shrine to the 1986 "people power"revolt that toppled late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

At least two policemen were killed and scores injured as thecrowd, which had been rallying for Estrada's release from custodyon corruption charges, forced its way through several police linesand stoned a policeman who already was laying injured and bloody.

One protester was fatally shot in the face; no details wereavailable on the fourth reported death. The reports were carried byradio and TV networks.

Some officials downplayed the significance of the clashes.

"We will not become like Indonesia, where upheavals arenonstop," said House of Representatives speaker FelicianoBelmonte. "This is just one incident, an outpouring of emotion."

Marchers drove a dump truck through an initial line of riotpolice who dropped their plastic shields and scattered.

Some of theestimated 20,000 marchers picked up the shields and raided aconstruction site for scrap wood for clubs.

They returned to the palace gates and started throwing stones,only to get pushed back, first by warning shots, then by tear gasand water cannons. Two helicopter gunships hovered overhead.

Shortly before noon, riot police made another attempt to driveaway the few thousand remaining protesters. Other police firedwarning shots in the air. Estrada's followers retaliated by hurlingstones.

Estrada lawyer Raymond Fortun said Arroyo's actions threatenopposition rights. "We are pretty much uncertain about our basicrights now," Fortun said.

A statement by the U.S. Embassy today backed Arroyo andcalled on protesters to "respect the rule of law and let thejudicial process take its course."

Report: Estrada Airlifted to Special Detention Center

Estrada was arrested last Wednesday on the capital offense ofplunder for allegedly pocketing millions of dollars in bribes andkickbacks in 31 months in office. After spending time in a jailcell, he has been undergoing medical tests at a hospital.

He was airlifted out this morning, with local TV reportinghe was transferred to a special detention center at Santa Rosa, 40miles south of Manila.

Arroyo has vowed to permit peaceful protest and crack down hardon efforts to destabilize her government.

She was sworn in Jan. 20 as Estrada was packing to leave thepresidential palace in the face of growing protests over thecorruption allegations. He denies any wrongdoing.