COUP PLOTTER HONASAN CAPTURED, TO FACE REBELLION

UNCLAS MANILA 004726 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO AND J5 SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (TOOLAN/BAILEY) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINS RP SUBJECT: COUP PLOTTER HONASAN CAPTURED, TO FACE REBELLION CHARGES REF: A. A. MANILA 4366 ¶B. B. MANILA 830 ¶C. C. 2003 MANILA 4021 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) Agents of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) captured fugitive coup plotter and former Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan November 15 in Metro Manila. The arrest came more than three years after the July 2003 "Oakwood Mutiny," in which over 300 junior officers of the armed forces, led by Honasan, attempted to overthrow President Arroyo (ref c). In March 2006, a local trial court issued an arrest warrant against Honasan for the 2003 mutiny. Honasan originally came to prominence in 1986, after he led an unsuccessful coup attempt against President Ferdinand Marcos that led to the "People Power" movement that forced Marcos from office. ¶2. (U) The PNP initiated the operation after informants tipped off the CIDG November 14 about Honasan's presence at his residence in Metro Manila. Police surveillance units followed Honasan's movements until his arrest. According to the PNP, the CIDG arrested Honasan after he jumped out of the second floor of a friend's town house as he tried to escape, severely injuring his feet. The police initially brought Honasan to PNP headquarters in Camp Crame but later moved him to a private hospital for further medical examination and treatment. The Department of Interior and Local Government posted in March a reward of 5 million pesos (USD 100,000) for information leading to Honasan's capture. ¶3. (U) Honasan has also been charged, along with 40 other individuals, for the February 2006 coup attempt that led to declaration of a one-week State of National Emergency (refs a and b). The case is still in the preliminary investigation stage, and no arrest warrants have yet been issued. ¶4. (U) There is some media speculation that Honasan's arrest constitutes part of an Arroyo Administration scheme to win the May 2007 mid-term elections. However, PNP Director Oscar Calderon was dismissive: "This is about normalcy of the government and the republic. This is about law enforcement - arresting a fugitive with warrant of arrest." There is also speculation that Honasan, who served in the Senate from 1995 to 2004, could again campaign for a Senate seat in the 2007 mid-term elections. Arroyo Administration Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita acknowledged that Honasan, despite SIPDIS the arrest, could still run for Senator pending a final verdict, and mused that the arrest might "boost his chances again as proven before." -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Following the filing last month of formal rebellion charges against more than 40 individuals -- many of them military and police officers -- Honasan's arrest represents yet another victory for the Arroyo Administration in its pursuit of long-term political stability. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye described Honasan's arrest as "another milestone that brings to a close a broad conspiracy to destabilize the Government and is a harbinger of growing political stability." Even the opposition seemed to agree. Prominent left-leaning Congressman Teddy Casino told poloff, "Honasan was an inspiration for many disgruntled military officers; his arrest is bound to have a quieting effect on rumblings in the military." KENNEY