New Manila Mutiny Repulsed; Aquino Safe : 9 Dead, 92 Hurt in Uprising; Air Force Chief Held Hostage

Mutinous soldiers attacked the Philippine presidential palace and a government television station early today in an attempt to overthrow the 18-month-old government of President Corazon Aquino. Government spokesmen said the coup attempt was quashed, and Aquino went on the air to tell the nation that she was safe and to appeal for calm.

At least nine people were killed and 92 were wounded in the uprising, which occurred a day after militant leftist unionists began the biggest strike of Aquino’s administration in the wake of days of protests against a gasoline price increase.

The rebels, described as loyal to ousted President Ferdinand E. Marcos, used bombs and guns to attack the Malacanang Palace compound--which houses Aquino’s residence and offices--and the state-run Channel 4 television station at about 1 a.m.

2 Hours of Fighting

Government troops repulsed the palace assault in street combat that lasted nearly two hours and chased away the rebels after a five-hour battle at Channel 4. But some rebels infiltrated armed forces headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in the capital, seized three buildings and held the air force chief hostage.

Aquino, interviewed on independent radio several hours after the fighting began, said she was safe and fully protected by security guards at the palace.

“In a few hours, we will be able to settle this,” Aquino said of the fifth coup attempt against her since she took power in February of last year.

Col. Honesto Isleta, an armed forces spokesman, said the rebellious soldiers were led by Col. Gregorio Honasan, a former aide to Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, whom Aquino fired as defense minister after a coup attempt last November.

Honasan told reporters before he and some of his men managed to enter Armed Forces headquarters that the operation was aimed at “unification of the people, the concept of justice and true freedom,” and said it was “not a military coup.”

“All we are fighting for is the children, our children and the children of the Filipino people,” Honasan said.

300 Mutineers Attacked

Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, the military chief of staff, said about 300 men attacked at 1 a.m. and there were “propaganda” reports that the mutineers supported him and Enrile. Ramos, who has put down other coup attempts, said he remains loyal to Aquino.

Enrile and Ramos helped lead the civilian-military revolt that drove former Marcos into exile after 20 years in power and installed Aquino.

Marcos said in Honolulu, where he and his wife, Imelda, live: “We are not involved, and there is no need for us to be involved in the Philippine situation. The people are desperate, hungry, sick and frustrated and are beginning to realize there is widespread hypocrisy, arrogance, tyranny, disregard for human rights and senseless killing.

“I promised the American government that I would not have anything to do with the destabilization that is going on,” Marcos said. “I intend to fulfill that promise. I am not going to leave the country. I am not going to participate in any attempt at destabilization.”

Tracer Bullets in Sky

Red tracer bullets crisscrossed the sky during the attack, and fighting continued in some areas after dawn. Soldiers at the government radio-television center in suburban Quezon City took cover behind press buses and cars, forcing reporters to scamper to avoid the gunfire.

Mutineers and loyal troops reportedly were battling around the government broadcast center with M-16 semi-automatic rifles and grenades more than six hours after the attack.

One reporter said six bodies lay in the street near the Nagtahan Bridge near the compound of the Presidential Security Group, Aquino’s palace guard, in a commercial and middle-class area in the heart of Manila.

Streets Sealed Off

Police and troops sealed off several major traffic arteries, including a boulevard that passes by Camp Crame, headquarters of the Philippine Constabulary, and Camp Aguinaldo, the Defense Department headquarters. An armored personnel carrier and several loyal government troops in full battle gear were deployed on the boulevard.

Reporters could see mutineers, wearing inverted Philippine flags on their chests, standing idle near the main gate of Camp Aguinaldo, but there was no firing. They refused to talk to reporters.

Military spokesman Isleta described the situation as “grim” at Camp Aguinaldo and said the rebels were holding air force chief Maj. Gen. Antonio Sotelo in his office.

Isleta said Sotelo asked Gen. Ramos to send a helicopter to drop leaflets urging the rebels to surrender and prevent a “bloody confrontation.”

At Channel 4, gunfire could be heard in the background as the station went on the air at 6 a.m. staffed by workers trapped inside.

‘Fierce Gun Battle Outside’

“We are hiding in our offices,” said a station employee. “There is a fierce gun battle outside” between the rebels and government troops on the roof of the building.

An hour later, a station employee said, “We’re OK now. Civilians are now streaming inside the television station.” He said four employees were wounded during the battle.

Aquino’s government has weathered several coup attempts and conspiracies since Marcos fled Feb. 26, 1986. She said she would summon the Cabinet for a special meeting today and would cancel a planned trip to central Luzon, the archipelago’s main island.

Aquino said it was too early to tell who was responsible for the attack. Ramos, in a separate radio broadcast, said the attack was launched by about 300 rebel troops from Ft. Magsaysay, the military’s largest training base, in Nueva Ecija province north of the capital. The garrison has been linked to previous conspiracies against the government.

While several officials, including Ramos, called the rebels Marcos loyalists, presidential executive secretary Joker Arroyo refused to comment on their allegiance.

“We have preliminary findings but we would rather not disclose them. They are disgruntled or former members of the armed forces but until daybreak we cannot be sure just who they are,” he said.