Manila, July 28: Police arrested a key aide of former president Joseph Estrada today and vowed to use emergency powers to detain other cronies of the disgraced leader over allegations they fomented a failed military mutiny.
Police said Ramon Cardenas, who had been a member of Estrada's Cabinet, owned a house where officers found assault rifles, ammunition and red arm bands similar to those used by soldiers who seized an apartment and shopping complex in downtown manila yesterday. They described the residence as a "staging area or Safe house" for the mutineers.
Yesterday's standoff ended peacefully after 19 hours and hundreds of renegade troops are now confined to barracks. Separately, lawyers for Estrada, who is in custody as he stands trial for corruption, denied the ex-leader was also involved in the mutiny, which challenged president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Estrada's main rival.

In a joint statement the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation and the police criminal investigation detection group said more arrest of members of Estrada's administration were likely under arrest powers granted through a presidential declaration of a state of rebellion.

"Other coup conspirators are believed to include former high ranking government officials in the deposed Estrada administration," it said.

Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye said all civilians shown to be involved in the military rebellion would be prosecuted.

"It is the height of disloyalty to the democratic system to exploit the grievances of soldiers by turning them into mutineers," he said.

Bureau Report.