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Proclamation 1017


February 24, 2006: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Proclamation 1017 declaring a state of national emergency after the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it uncovered a coup plot involving the withdrawal of support of some members of the military. AFP Chief Generoso Senga disclosed that Danilo Lim, commander of the Army's elite 1st Scout Ranger regiment, and Col. Ariel Querubin, commanding officer of the 1st Marine Brigade, were planning to participate in the EDSA I anniversary rally and announce their withdrawal of support from Arroyo. Lim was relieved of his post and placed under Senga's custody, while Querubin denied involvement in the coup plot. Police suspended gun-carrying privileges of civilian gun-holders and violently dispersed rallies commemorating the 20th anniversary of People Power I at the EDSA Shrine. University of the Philippines Prof. Randy David, Atty. Argee Guevara. among others, were arrested, but they were later released. In the early morning of the next day, police raided the offices of the newspaper Daily Tribune, whiled armed men in civilian clothes had gone around the offices of Abante, the country’s biggest tabloid. The government also deployed troops to the compounds of ABS-CBN and GMA-7, the country’s largest television networks. The government claimed the soldiers were protecting these stations from a potential takeover by destabilizers. An Ayala march led by former President Cory Aquino was allowed, but police dispersed the crowd after Aquino left. Former Philippine Constabulary Chief Ramon Montaño, who was then playing gold with another retired general, Rex Piad was arrested. Also arrested on February 25 using a 21-year-old warrant of arrest was Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran. On February 26, disgruntled Marines led by Querubin protested the relief of Marine Commandant MGen. Renato Miranda. Querubin refused to recognize the newly installed Marine commandant, BGen Nelson Allaga, and called on the people to protect the marines. The stand-off at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio ended when Allaga emerged from a private meeting with Querubin and announced that the Marines as a unit will adhere to the Constitution. The next day, 16 people including Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis Reps. Beltran and Rafael Mariano, and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza were charged with rebellion. On the same day, Virador was arrested in Davao City and was eventually escorted by Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to the House of Representatives. He and the other party-list solons--except Beltran--were then placed under the protective custody of the House to avoid being arrested. Petitions questioning the legality of the Proclamation were also filed by various groups and individuals before the Supreme Court on that day. Arroyo lifted the state of emergency a week later. After two months, a Supreme Court decision declared Proclamation 1017 constitutional but the acts committed in its implementation unconstitutional.
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