Manila Palace Attacked in Coup Attempt; Aquino Safe : 5 Killed, TV Station Stormed

Forces loyal to ousted President Ferdinand E. Marcos attempted to overthrow President Corazon Aquino today, but government forces were repulsing the attackers and the situation was under control, Armed Forces Chief Fidel Ramos said. At least five people were reported killed.

Ramos said in a radio broadcast that 300 dissident troops loyal to deposed President Marcos had attacked the Malacanang presidential palace, President Corazon Aquino’s headquarters, and a state-owned television channel shortly after 1 a.m. Friday, Manila time.

Reuters correspondents said that troops surrounded both locations and that there were bursts of automatic gunfire in the darkness.

Aquino, 54, who came to power in a peaceful “People’s Power” revolt in February, 1986, was safe, he said in his radio address.

3 Truckloads of Soldiers

At least three truckloads of soldiers exchanged gunfire with security men guarding the offices of Channel 4 television in suburban Quezon City around 2 a.m. leaving at least one person dead, according to reporters inside the building. Witnesses reported seeing at least four other bodies.

The TV station, which normally closes around midnight, stayed off the air.

Radio station DZRH said some soldiers had been wounded around the palace but did not indicate whether they were mutineers or loyal to the government.

Police said three bombs exploded at government offices in Manila. Two of the blasts were at the offices of metropolitan Manila Gov. Jejomar Binay and one at the Philippine Coconut Authority in suburban Quezon City. Details of the blasts were not immediately available.

Heavy Firing Reported

Associated Press reporter Criselda Yabes, reporting from the palace area, said there was still heavy firing at 3:30 a.m. in the area of the Nagtahan Bridge a few hundred yards east of the palace.

She said reporters could see bright red tracer rounds crisscrossing the sky and could hear the crackle of automatic fire.

An officer standing at the gate of Malacanang Palace said the situation in the compound was under control.

Reuters correspondents said troops wearing red headbands and waving an inverted Philippine flag and a red banner surrounded Malacanang.

The situation near the palace was extremely tense and confused, and cars were diverted by men in civilian clothes wearing headbands.

Reporter Told to Turn Back

“Turn back or we’ll kill you,” a Reuters reporter was told.

The coup attempt began when several truckloads of soldiers arrived near the palace, residents said.

Dissident troops loyal to Marcos stormed and occupied a private television channel in January in one of four coup attempts staged against Aquino since she replaced Marcos.

The attempt came after days of left-wing protests in Manila against a fuel price increase.

The government arrested several labor leaders Thursday after they organized a general strike that stopped transportation in Manila.