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State of Rebellion Declared in Metro Manila: Spokesman
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday afternoon declared a state of rebellion in Metro Manila following the rallists' violent storming of the Presidential Palace, a presidential spokesman said.
Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao explained President Arroyo was forced to declare the state of rebellion, saying the situation is no longer ordinary to be considered a protest.
Thousands of Estrada supporters clashed with military soldiers and policemen on their way marching to the Presidential Palace early Tuesday morning from the Edsa Shine, about 15 kilometers away from the palace.
Riot police and Presidential Security Group members fired volleys of warning shots into the air to hold them back when they breached a barricade just outside a gate of the Presidential Palace.
"We view this as a rebellion which is similar to a rebellion by the Abu Sayyaf for instance," Tiglao said.
He added that the move is only for a limited period, "just enough to last until all the perpetrators of this violent overthrow of government are neutralized."
Estrada supporters have been staging rallies at the Edsa Shrine since Estrada's arrest last Wednesday, demanding Arroyo's resignation.
Estrada was arrested last Wednesday on economic plunder charges, non-bailable offense punishable by death.
He was accused of illegally amassing 4.1 billion pesos (82 million US dollars) during his 31 months in office before he was ousted by a military-backed People Power revolt on January 20.
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