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CNN Sunday Morning

Military-Government Standoff Ends in Philippines

Aired July 27, 2003 - 10:59   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.


ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with the end of the mutiny in Manila, a nearly day-long standoff between rebel soldiers and government troops is finally over. Mutinous soldiers accused the government arming rebel groups.
CNN's Maria Ressa is following all the developments from the Philippines capital, where it is now late Sunday evening.

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's a mood of quiet relief here at the Oakwood Hotel. We are broadcasting to you from here.

Downstairs the troops are laying their weapons; they are preparing to go back to barracks.

The talks have ended. The agreement is for the rogue soldiers and officers to march back to barracks. In exchange, they claim that they are ready to face charges under articles of war.

The Philippine government, in a sign of good faith, says that it will consider whether or not these charges or what charges will be leveled against these officers.

This ends a siege of the financial district that began more than 20 hours ago. It is nearly the 20th hour at the point when the troops began to move out. It also brings up some very difficult problems for the Arroyo government. In effect what we've seen here the Philippine military turn itself inside out. We saw an internal rift that burst out into the open, the military being the institution that has backed the political leadership in this country over the last three decades.

So this is something that must be healed, not just by these talks at this time, but by a political consensus that will decide how such mutiny, such rebellious acts will be treated in the future. This is Maria Ressa, CNN, Manila.

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 - 10:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with the end of the mutiny in Manila, a nearly day-long standoff between rebel soldiers and government troops is finally over. Mutinous soldiers accused the government arming rebel groups.
CNN's Maria Ressa is following all the developments from the Philippines capital, where it is now late Sunday evening.

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's a mood of quiet relief here at the Oakwood Hotel. We are broadcasting to you from here.

Downstairs the troops are laying their weapons; they are preparing to go back to barracks.

The talks have ended. The agreement is for the rogue soldiers and officers to march back to barracks. In exchange, they claim that they are ready to face charges under articles of war.

The Philippine government, in a sign of good faith, says that it will consider whether or not these charges or what charges will be leveled against these officers.

This ends a siege of the financial district that began more than 20 hours ago. It is nearly the 20th hour at the point when the troops began to move out. It also brings up some very difficult problems for the Arroyo government. In effect what we've seen here the Philippine military turn itself inside out. We saw an internal rift that burst out into the open, the military being the institution that has backed the political leadership in this country over the last three decades.

So this is something that must be healed, not just by these talks at this time, but by a political consensus that will decide how such mutiny, such rebellious acts will be treated in the future. This is Maria Ressa, CNN, Manila.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com