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CNN Sunday Morning
Military Rebellion in the Philippines Continues
Aired July 27, 2003 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHUCK ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the military rebellion in the Philippines is still going on. Let's get the latest, a live update from Maria Ressa.
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Although there has been a softening in the positioning of both the rogue soldiers in this building and the Philippine government, the deadline, as you say, is at the top of this hour.
The rogue soldiers, about 86 of them, here in the building, by their own head count, say they are not to surrender, but that they are willing to talk with the government. They said, at this point, that they have leveled substantial charges against the government, including a charge that the government is actually inciting social unrest in order to declare martial law.
It is a charge that brings up a historical path here in the Philippines. The dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, which used martial law to maintain his 21-years -- his 21 years in power.
At this point, the Filipino people say the rogue officers here should be the ones to decide.
What you are really seeing happening in front of you is really in effect is really a split within the military. At least, about a 100 young idealists, at least that is the way they are portraying themselves -- and they are being portrayed by the Philippine government -- challenging this government, it's ideas of reform. Stating that the people should hold this government accountable.
As you heard, he said that they want the people to decide. At this point there have not been any substantial public support for this mutiny. But the Philippine government is handling it with velvet gloves. We've seen on national television, the Philippines President Gloria Arroyo, meeting with the mother of the spokesman, the officer you saw just in front of you, appealing to the soldiers to come back to the fold of the government.
Although the deadline has expired there is a slight tension within the building, but it seems that ongoing, informal personal negotiations are continuing. They way the got these negotiations to happen actually is one of the junior officers here in the building personally contacted a classmate of his, who is the aid of President Arroyo. So, these kind of ongoing and personal contacts are the ones that are moving this forward.
Back to you, Chuck.
ROBERTS: All right, Maria Ressa in the Philippines. Maria, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 27, 2003 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHUCK ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the military rebellion in the Philippines is still going on. Let's get the latest, a live update from Maria Ressa.
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Although there has been a softening in the positioning of both the rogue soldiers in this building and the Philippine government, the deadline, as you say, is at the top of this hour.
The rogue soldiers, about 86 of them, here in the building, by their own head count, say they are not to surrender, but that they are willing to talk with the government. They said, at this point, that they have leveled substantial charges against the government, including a charge that the government is actually inciting social unrest in order to declare martial law.
It is a charge that brings up a historical path here in the Philippines. The dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, which used martial law to maintain his 21-years -- his 21 years in power.
At this point, the Filipino people say the rogue officers here should be the ones to decide.
What you are really seeing happening in front of you is really in effect is really a split within the military. At least, about a 100 young idealists, at least that is the way they are portraying themselves -- and they are being portrayed by the Philippine government -- challenging this government, it's ideas of reform. Stating that the people should hold this government accountable.
As you heard, he said that they want the people to decide. At this point there have not been any substantial public support for this mutiny. But the Philippine government is handling it with velvet gloves. We've seen on national television, the Philippines President Gloria Arroyo, meeting with the mother of the spokesman, the officer you saw just in front of you, appealing to the soldiers to come back to the fold of the government.
Although the deadline has expired there is a slight tension within the building, but it seems that ongoing, informal personal negotiations are continuing. They way the got these negotiations to happen actually is one of the junior officers here in the building personally contacted a classmate of his, who is the aid of President Arroyo. So, these kind of ongoing and personal contacts are the ones that are moving this forward.
Back to you, Chuck.
ROBERTS: All right, Maria Ressa in the Philippines. Maria, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
