Aquino Foe Escapes From Prison Ship

The Army colonel who led a bloody coup attempt that nearly overthrew President Corazon Aquino last August escaped from his prison ship early this morning, fleeing with 13 of his Philippine navy guards after commandeering two rubber patrol boats.

In announcing “with sadness the unfortunate escape” of Col. Gregorio (Gringo) Honasan, Aquino’s military spokesman, Col. Oscar Florendo, said that all Manila military bases had been placed on red alert and that “a massive manhunt” has been launched for Honasan and the members of his navy guard who fled the ship with him under the cover of darkness.

Florendo also said that the commander of the Philippine navy ship where Honasan has been held since his capture last Dec. 9 has been placed under arrest, and that a probe is under way to determine the extent of the conspiracy that led to the escape.

“It is believed that bribery was a factor that led to their betrayal of their oath and sworn duty,” Florendo said of the officer and men who aided and joined Honasan in the daring escape.

Florendo did not elaborate, but he did concede that government forces did not know the 14 men were missing until a routine morning inspection of the ship.

The military spokesman also admitted that in mid-March, military intelligence agents had alerted top commanders that Honasan was planning to escape from the ship, which has been moored about 500 yards off shore in Manila Bay.

“That was why they ordered two rubber boats, to increase the security,” the colonel said. “It turned out that the boats we sent were the ones used in the escape.”

Honasan, an almost legendary leader and combat officer who also served as chief strategist in the February, 1986, popularly backed military coup that overthrew President Ferdinand E. Marcos and brought Aquino to power, is widely known throughout the Philippines for his heroics.

He became a national figure after the coup that forced Marcos into exile two years ago, and, even after Honasan fled at the height of his August coup attempt, which left scores dead and hundreds wounded, Filipinos watched with fascination as the renegade colonel frustrated a nationwide manhunt for more than 3 months.

At the time of Honasan’s capture in a suburban Manila home, Aquino and her military commanders were jubilant. Then armed forces chief Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, who is now Aquino’s defense secretary, labeled the arrest, “good news for the government, the people and the armed forces of the Philippines.”

Today, though, it was with sadness in his voice that Florendo appealed to the public, asking for any information leading to the recapture of Honasan.