Palace backtracks on possibility of military takeover

Malacanang on Saturday backtracked on an earlier statement it made regarding the possibility of a military takeover in case the upcoming May automated polls fail, saying that a military junta is unlikely even in a "worst case scenario." Presidential spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said that a military takeover should not be the cause of worry even if the automated polls fail and Comelec has to revert to manual counting in May. “The worst case scenario is that we go back to manual counting. That is the worst thing that can happen, but even in such a scenario, there is no need to worry about a military takeover," he said in Filipino during an interview over radio dzRB. Saludo’s assurance came a day after deputy spokesperson Charito Planas said in a press briefing that a military takeover is “possible" if political turmoil arises from a failure to install a new president by the end of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term on June 30. The presidential spokesperson clarified that Planas raised the possibility of a military junta only to emphasize that there will be no failure of elections in May. “She was just trying to send home the message that there will be no failure of elections," he said. Saludo also maintained that Mrs. Arroyo would step down on June 30 and turn over her post to the new president. “We know that the President already said that she will step down at noon of June 30, as decreed by the Constitution. After that, we will have a new president in place," he said.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV