Philippines security chiefs say coup risk recedes; lowers alert level

Security chiefs have lowered alert levels and said that emergency be lifted, since the threat of a coup had receded

Philippine security chiefs lowered alert levels on Thursday and said they were likely to recommend that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lift the current state of emergency, because the threat of a coup had receded.

HT Image

"The trajectory is towards recommendation since the situation is favourable already," Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez told a news conference, reversing his judgment of a day earlier.

Gonzalez's rosier assessment coincided with the opinions of the defence secretary and the national police chief, that the threats to the government from leftist opponents and renegade troops had subsided.

Arroyo is waiting for a report from the trio within the next two days before making a decision on ending emergency rule, which has been criticised by human rights groups for giving the government a green light to put pressure on the local media.

Earlier, police and military lowered their maximum alert levels, halving the number of troops on standby around the country.

Arroyo had invoked emergency rule last week, to confront what she said was an alliance of opposition members, communist groups and "military adventurists" conspiring to bring down her government.

But she has come under pressure from her vice-president, her economic team, foreign investors and the U.S. State Department to lift the order as soon as possible.