Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Philippines Charges 16 with Plot to Overthrow the Government
------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1122222:3919ACA Former senator,
congressman among those charged, as government continues crackdown
against opposition Philippine police filed charges of rebellion Monday
against 16 people, including a former senator and a congressman, as
the government continued its crackdown against the opposition.







Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo waves to the crowd as she
makes her first public appearance since declaring a state of
emergencyThe 16 were charged with conspiracy to overthrow the
government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who declared a state
of emergency Friday claiming disgruntled members of the military and
opposition members from the left and the right of the political
spectrum were plotting to overthrow her government.

Mrs. Arroyo says she issued the emergency decree to save her
government.

"[There has been] a steep rise for political mischief," she said. "And
that is why we had to declare a state of national emergency."

The declaration gives sweeping powers to the government.

Those charged include the former opposition senator and former soldier
Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, who led several bloody coups against the
presidency of Corazon Aquino in the late 1980s, House of
Representatives member, Crispin Beltran, several soldiers, and three
leftists members of Congress.

Lawyers and other citizens petitioned the Supreme Court to rescind the
emergency decree, calling it unconstitutional.


.