Manila Seizes 10, Cites Foiled Plot
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MANILA — Philippine soldiers Friday captured 10 followers of the fugitive leader of last August’s coup attempt in raids the military said foiled a plot to attack the presidential palace.
The military went on nationwide alert this week to guard against any coup attempt while President Corazon Aquino is visiting China.
Chief military spokesman Col. Oscar Florendo said those arrested included eight navy guards who helped former Lt. Col. Gregorio (Gringo) Honasan escape his prison ship April 2. Honasan led the attempted coup last Aug. 28, which left at least 53 people dead and more than 300 others wounded.
Florendo said the operation was continuing but that Honasan remains at large. Honasan had been detained on the navy ship since his arrest last December in a Manila suburb.
Col. Emiliano Templo, leader of the raiding party, said the military learned of a plot to attack the presidential compound “so we acted quickly. We preempted the plan.”
Those arrested included Lt. Gerardo Mojica, commander of the security force aboard the ship from which Honasan escaped.
Aquino left Thursday for a four-day visit to China and Hong Kong.
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