Philippines arrests coup plotter 'Gringo' Honasan

November 15th, 2006

Manilla, Philippines - Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, a former colonel and senator, was arrested in connection with a plot to overthrow Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippine president announced.

Gregorio Gringo Honasan, a former colonel and senator, was arrested in connection with a plot to overthrow Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippine president announced.

Honasan has been implicated in nearly all of a dozen or more coups attempted in the Philippines over the last two decades.

Honasan has been in hiding since February 23, the eve of the planned uprising against Arroyo. He was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday after weeks of police tracking phone calls.

He was being treated at hospital for injuries after he tried to elude arrest by jumping over a fence.

Asher Dolina, a senior police superintendent, said although Honasan had initially resisted arrest, " ... when we already handcuffed him and he saw the futility of his resistance, he just followed us".

State prosecutors have charged 45 people in connection with the coup attempt, including 20 military and police officers, a state university president and former ambassador.

Arroyo declared a week-long emergency on February 24 after accusing soldiers and communist groups of plotting a coup. She also survived two impeachment attempts over allegations of vote-rigging and corruption.

Honasan, 58, gained fame and notoriety in 1986 when, as a young officer advocating military reform, he led a failed plot to topple Ferdinand Marcos, the then president. The next year he tried to topple Corazon Aquino, Marcos's successor.

He was imprisoned but escaped and led another coup attempt in 1989. He was later granted amnesty and gained a senate seat in 1995.

Oscar Calderon, the police chief, said Honasan would not escape this time as he had a "gentlemen's agreement" with him to co-operate. He added that the prisoner would receive no special treatment in detention but be accorded "respect as a former senator".

Calderon also revealed that the government would pay an informant a $98,000 reward for the arrest.

Honasan is also facing rebellion charges over a failed mutiny by 300 junior military officers in 2003.