Filipino Cadets Fast in Support of Rebels : Mutineers Declare Junta, Call for New Presidential Vote

Philippine Military Academy cadets went on a hunger strike today in support of mutineers who tried unsuccessfully to overthrow President Corazon Aquino in a bloody revolt last week.

The government sent Maj. Gen. Eduardo Ermita, the military’s third-ranking officer, to try to talk the cadets out of their action.

Rightist sources meanwhile said troops involved in Friday’s mutiny had prepared a statement declaring a provisional junta and calling for presidential elections. The sources demanded anonymity.

At least 37 people were killed and about 300 wounded in the coup attempt.

1,000 Are Questioned

The military said today that more than 1,100 troops, including the air force deputy commander, were being questioned in connection with the revolt.

Loyal troops were searching Bulacan and Pampanga provinces north of Manila for about 200 rebels still at large, including coup leader Col. Gregorio Honasan.

The Philippines News Agency quoted unidentified military officials as saying Honasan was believed to be in Cagayan province on northern Luzon island, political stronghold of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Aquino’s chief political enemy.

Ermita, the deputy chief of staff, flew to the military academy in Baguio City, 130 miles north of Manila, after news reports said that about 600 cadets were fasting to show support for the rebels.

Received ‘Disinformation’

Army spokesman Col. Honesto Isleta said this evening on a television talk show that Ermita and other officers met with the cadets most of the day. He said the cadets realized they had received “disinformation” and would return to classes Tuesday.

But the academy, the West Point of the Philippines, imposed a news blackout and cadets could not be reached for confirmation that this was the case.

Honasan and other coup leaders are graduates of the academy.

Presidential spokesman Teodoro Benigno described the academy as “a cradle of very youthful idealism.”

“I am sure these PMA cadets will eventually realize they are out of step with the rest of their fellow soldiers and officers and even more important, out of step with the Filipino people,” he said.

‘Ruling Junta’

The statement attributed to the rebels was signed “ruling junta central Luzon.” That area is where hundreds of mutineers launched attacks Friday on the presidential palace, broadcast stations and military camps in Manila.

The statement accused Aquino of treason and vowed that the revolt would continue “until political conditions shall have been stabilized and a clean and honest presidential election shall have been held.”

It accused Aquino of dismembering the country by illegally granting autonomy to minorities, of appointing communists to the government, and of refusing “to listen and effectively respond to the reasonable demands of the freedom-loving nationalist members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”