Military Coup today at Manila Peninsula hotel
Today we had classes as usual with a slightly different end. People were being fetched during lunch period by their parents and people didn't really know why. Later, we heard that there was a coup in Manila Peninsula. Naturally, we were all terrified and concerned because our school is near the hotel. People were being picked up and classes attempted to resume but because alot of us were missing (and in our class, most people were dancing for no reason. I think we officially freaked out our teacher lolz) and we were distracted, we didn't :D I was picked up around the time they were gathering the students in the Assumpta Court for an impromptu assembly. I wonder what they were telling them? Earlier, when I asked to call my house (to be picked up) they didn't let me because the parents were supposed to call or something and if they wanted to pick us up they could. Hello, we could have been caught in the crossfire if it had escalated. D:
I was home at about 1:30 or so and I spent the rest of my time watching the news and keeping track of everything. We heard that in Manila Peninsula had been taken over in a coup led by Senator Triliano and General Danny Lim along with a bishop and other supporters. Apparently, Senator Triliano was brought to Makati to be put on trial for the Oakwood mutiny. They had trial then they had a recess so they were able to move about. Triliano walked out of the court house and down the street along the financial district. His bodyguards didn't stop him because they "had no orders to stop him only to follow him and protect him" That has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. This man is being tried for a crime against the government and they just ALLOW him to walk out and stroll. Psh.
Anyway, he went to the Manila Peninsula Hotel and met up with his supporters (the Magdalo group) They took over a function room on the second floor and positioned their men in the hotel. There, they demanded that GMA step down from the presidency and called supporters to come and show how they wouldn't tolerate the government anymore. They called for a new government, a new Philippines if I remember correctly. A commander or general whatever came to negotiate and demanded they leave by 3:00 pm. Ironically, it was he who left the building after a Magdalo soldier told him to leave the premisis. Wuss. D:
This continued as the governement awaited the 3:00 mark. Of course, Magdalo didn't vacate the building and later the government started to position their troops around the hotel. Thye brought in the military first with the SWAT and the armored vehicles (something like tanks) The police was also there with a heck load of journalists. Some were trapped in the hotel because someone sealed the entrance. D: So we had live feed of what was happening inside and out. It got later and later but it was only at like... 5:30+ pm that the government acted. They fired tear gas into the hotel. Later on, they broke down the door using the armored vehicle (Strong door. The first hit bounced off the glass panes. It's special glass) Magdalo surrendered because they feared for the lvies of the civilians in the premisis. Had there not been any civilians, they would have been a crossfire. They waited for the tear gas to subside before making their way outside. First were the journalists, who were arrested and taken to Bicutan for questioning. I thought it was kind of weird but my Dad says it's standard proceedure. He said there could have been soldiers hiding amongst the press people.
Triliano, Lim and the bishop along with other supporters and suspects were put into a bus to be ferried to detention cells or something. Triliano was manhandled but the others weren't. I wonder why? :< Triliano said earlier (after he said they would come out of the hotel peacefully) that this wasn't a defeat for them. If anyone had lost, it had been the country, he said. This fight would continue and like all evil regimes, this one would end (referring to GMA's administration)
Imagine, it's a holiday tomorrow and this happens. Plus, we have Akon in the country performing a concert in Araneta. This is such a sad image to project. This whole thing was shown on CNN. Gaaah. I almost couldn't go to Chiara's tomorrow but thank God that the coup ended. Too bad that this kind of thing is getting more and more frequent. What ever happened to a peaceful society? Whatever happened to moral values and rights? D: I swear I don't know what's happening anymore.
I was home at about 1:30 or so and I spent the rest of my time watching the news and keeping track of everything. We heard that in Manila Peninsula had been taken over in a coup led by Senator Triliano and General Danny Lim along with a bishop and other supporters. Apparently, Senator Triliano was brought to Makati to be put on trial for the Oakwood mutiny. They had trial then they had a recess so they were able to move about. Triliano walked out of the court house and down the street along the financial district. His bodyguards didn't stop him because they "had no orders to stop him only to follow him and protect him" That has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. This man is being tried for a crime against the government and they just ALLOW him to walk out and stroll. Psh.
Anyway, he went to the Manila Peninsula Hotel and met up with his supporters (the Magdalo group) They took over a function room on the second floor and positioned their men in the hotel. There, they demanded that GMA step down from the presidency and called supporters to come and show how they wouldn't tolerate the government anymore. They called for a new government, a new Philippines if I remember correctly. A commander or general whatever came to negotiate and demanded they leave by 3:00 pm. Ironically, it was he who left the building after a Magdalo soldier told him to leave the premisis. Wuss. D:
This continued as the governement awaited the 3:00 mark. Of course, Magdalo didn't vacate the building and later the government started to position their troops around the hotel. Thye brought in the military first with the SWAT and the armored vehicles (something like tanks) The police was also there with a heck load of journalists. Some were trapped in the hotel because someone sealed the entrance. D: So we had live feed of what was happening inside and out. It got later and later but it was only at like... 5:30+ pm that the government acted. They fired tear gas into the hotel. Later on, they broke down the door using the armored vehicle (Strong door. The first hit bounced off the glass panes. It's special glass) Magdalo surrendered because they feared for the lvies of the civilians in the premisis. Had there not been any civilians, they would have been a crossfire. They waited for the tear gas to subside before making their way outside. First were the journalists, who were arrested and taken to Bicutan for questioning. I thought it was kind of weird but my Dad says it's standard proceedure. He said there could have been soldiers hiding amongst the press people.
Triliano, Lim and the bishop along with other supporters and suspects were put into a bus to be ferried to detention cells or something. Triliano was manhandled but the others weren't. I wonder why? :< Triliano said earlier (after he said they would come out of the hotel peacefully) that this wasn't a defeat for them. If anyone had lost, it had been the country, he said. This fight would continue and like all evil regimes, this one would end (referring to GMA's administration)
Imagine, it's a holiday tomorrow and this happens. Plus, we have Akon in the country performing a concert in Araneta. This is such a sad image to project. This whole thing was shown on CNN. Gaaah. I almost couldn't go to Chiara's tomorrow but thank God that the coup ended. Too bad that this kind of thing is getting more and more frequent. What ever happened to a peaceful society? Whatever happened to moral values and rights? D: I swear I don't know what's happening anymore.