Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said Monday that she had nipped in the bud a "power grab" plot by supporters of her jailed predecessor Joseph Estrada that failed to win support from the military.
News of the plot came as Estrada's supporters staged street protests for the sixth day running since his jailing Wednesday on charges of economic plunder. The court set his arraignment for June 27.
"Last night there was going to be a power grab, but it fizzled out," Arroyo, who marked her 100 days in power on Sunday, told a news conference after a meeting with her cabinet and the police and military brass.
The petite 54-year-old warned future attempts to topple her government would be quashed by "formidable defense measures."
"I will have no qualms to address (a) power grab, as I (did not have) qualms last night, depending on the gravity of the threat," Arroyo said.
One of Estrada's sons, Joseph Victor Ejercito, confirmed late Monday that his camp was pursuing talks with military figures and insisted that at least 17 military officials have expressed their willingness to defect, contrary to the government's account.
But he refused to name them or identify their rank.
"They told us they are frightened," Ejercito said. "They were asking us what were our plans, our moves and our activities."
The government also declined to identify the plotters and said there were no arrests. But Arroyo said: "Let me just say that this is not their first time around." – MANILA (AFP)
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