STANDOFF WITH FORMER COUP PLOTTERS ENDS PEACEFULLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 003800

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: CASC MARR MCAP PREL RP MASS
SUBJECT: STANDOFF WITH FORMER COUP PLOTTERS ENDS PEACEFULLY

REF: MANILA 3797

Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Approximately three hours after a
Philippine government deadline to surrender, Senator Antonio
Trillanes, a former military officer, along with coup plotter
Brigadier General Danilo Lim and other supporters, turned
themselves over to Philippine authorities at the Manila
Peninsula hotel, where they had taken over the second floor.
Throughout the standoff, the Ambassador was in close contact
with top Philippine civilian and military leaders, who
emphasized the desire to end the incident quickly and
peacefully. All U.S. citizens are safe and accounted for and
have been relocated to nearby hotels. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) At approximately 6:15 p.m., three hours after
Philippine National Police General Barias was rebuffed in his
attempt to serve an arrest warrant to Senator Trillanes
(reftel),the accused coup plotters who had walked out of the
courthouse in Makati and taken over the second floor of the
Peninsula hotel surrendered to Philippine authorities. The
Philippine National Police, supported by the Philippine
Marines, entered the hotel at approximately 5:10 p.m., using
a police armored vehicle to breach the door. Tear gas was
deployed and within minutes, media reports showed disarray
among Trillanes and his group. No shots were fired during
the assault and after briefly talking to the press, Trillanes
announced that he and the others would surrender to
authorities as soon as the building was clear of tear gas.


3. (C) Throughout the afternoon, up until the incident was
resolved, the Ambassador and Embassy staff were in close
contact with civilian and military authorities. In phone
conversations with the President, the Secretary of National
Defense, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, and the Director of
the Philippine National Police, the Ambassador emphasized
U.S. support for a legal and peaceful resolution to the
crisis, and was reassured by the Philippine leadership that
this was their goal. Philippine police and military forces
acted with restraint and professionalism, effecting a
coordinated response that left no casualties. We expect
little follow-up action from Philippine officials over the
weekend, as Friday, November 30 is a major national holiday
in the Philippines.


4. (C) The Embassy confirmed that all U.S. citizens
registered at the Peninsula Hotel were safe and accounted for
and have been relocated to nearby Manila hotels. The Embassy
will continue monitoring the situation and report on the
facts surrounding the incident next week, when the Philippine
government resumes office hours.

Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm

You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/

KENNEY