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.
