Philippines emergency to be reviewed

MANILA – President Gloria Arroyo may give up her emergency powers as early as Saturday if there is no longer a national security threat after a failed coup plot, a senior aide said yesterday as resistance to Arroyo’s declaration intensified.

“On Saturday they (security advisers) will assess the situation again. We’ll see if there will be a decision by Saturday,” Finance Secretary Margarito Teves told reporters.”It is possible there will be changes by then.”Arroyo declared a “state of national emergency” last Friday, rattling the financial markets.She said she needed to use the military to crush what she described as an alliance of communist rebels and “military adventurists” aimed at toppling her.In a widening crackdown, 16 opposition figures including left-wing legislators face charges of rebellion and attempting a coup d’etat.A handful of officers from the military and police have also been detained.Lawyers are challenging Arroyo’s emergency declaration in court and plan to take their resistance to the streets as well, while more than half the country’s Senators yesterday denounced the move.Among the 16 people facing charges was a group of leftist legislators holed up yesterday inside the legislature building to delay their arrest after the authorities implicated them in the coup plot.- Nampa-AFPWe’ll see if there will be a decision by Saturday,” Finance Secretary Margarito Teves told reporters.”It is possible there will be changes by then.”Arroyo declared a “state of national emergency” last Friday, rattling the financial markets.She said she needed to use the military to crush what she described as an alliance of communist rebels and “military adventurists” aimed at toppling her.In a widening crackdown, 16 opposition figures including left-wing legislators face charges of rebellion and attempting a coup d’etat.A handful of officers from the military and police have also been detained.Lawyers are challenging Arroyo’s emergency declaration in court and plan to take their resistance to the streets as well, while more than half the country’s Senators yesterday denounced the move.Among the 16 people facing charges was a group of leftist legislators holed up yesterday inside the legislature building to delay their arrest after the authorities implicated them in the coup plot.- Nampa-AFP