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In spite of gunfire, Trillanes to 'wait and see'


Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he and his sympathizers would rather "wait and see" as former Navy lieutenant-turned-politician appeared calm in the face of repeated gunfire heard around the posh Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati city. In a television interview, Trillanes insisted that he, Brigadier Gen. Danilo Lim and members of the mutinous Magdalo Group will not leave the hotel. He similarly denied that his supporters, which reportedly include his military escorts at a Makati court hearing earlier in the day, were answering the shots fired by police and military troops. "It's not coming from our end," Trillanes assured, even as he gave a warning to those who would insist on enforcing the court-issued arrest order. Asked what his orders were to his comrades, he said that it was to "do what is right." Pressed if that meant fighting with bullets, Trillanes said that, "Right, that's what i meant." "We will wait and see ... for things to unfold," he added. He claimed that the government was preventing more people from answering his call to join him in Makati City. "We have seen this situation before ... We're just waiting things out. People who like share their support are being blocked and disturbed," Trillanes said. Government soldiers, backed by armored personnel carrier, also were seen taking combat positions outside the hotel. Some were also seen going into the hotel premises. GMA News reported that government soldiers have started securing all the possible exit points at the hotel. Earlier, police Dir. Geary Barias gave Trillanes and Lim until 3 p.m. to surrender. He said government troops were prepared to take appropriate action against Trillanes and Lim who are backed by armed Magdalo soldiers. Police has earlier ordered guests and hotel personnel to evacuate the building in case the serving of the arrest warrants become “harsh." Both Trillanes and Lim had rejected appeals for them to surrender peacefully, and even reiterated their call for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down. - GMANews.TV

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