Palace dismisses call for probe of ‘pre-EDSA coup plot’

Is a puzzlement.

This was how Malacañang dismissed yesterday the claim of former Sen. Rene Saguisag that President Arroyo and Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes plotted to overthrow President Joseph Estrada when she was still vice president and a member of the Cabinet.

Executive Secretary Renato de Villa told The STAR yesterday he was "puzzled" why Saguisag, who is Estrada’s counsel, was calling for the investigation of Mrs. Arroyo and Reyes, and Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director General Leandro Mendoza, Marine Lt. Gen. Edgardo Espinosa, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force commander Director Hermogenes Ebdane, and Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya.

"I really don’t know if there is any basis or on whether an investigation will prosper, as far as we are concerned, all that were exercised were the rights of the people to express their views and to take action against a corrupt government," he said.

De Villa said the government does not know how to respond to Saguisag’s request for an investigation on Mrs. Arroyo’s alleged plot with the five generals to oust Estrada before the people power II uprising last Jan. 20.

"I have not received anything (like a request) except what I read in the papers," he said "And that is not a basis for action insofar as that issue is concerned, they must file charges, I suppose. It (call for an investigation) will prosper only in the minds of those who cannot accept stability."

Reyes told The STAR yesterday he is ready to face any court martial that may be called to try him for withdrawing his support from Estrada last Jan. 19 at the height of people power II.

"I welcome any court martial," he said. "If they do (call a court martial), it (would be) good. They should hurry it up."

On the other hand, Ebdane told The STAR he and the four generals did "nothing wrong" when they plotted with Mrs. Arroyo to overthrow Estrada as the duly elected President of the Philippines.

"For our part, we just did the right thing," he said. "It was constitutional insofar as my group is concerned. It was for the purpose of safeguarding the lives of the personalities in the line of succession."

Espinosa, Mendoza, and Berroya have not made any comment on the issue.

Acting Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that as long it is "within legal bounds," Saguisag is "free to call for any investigation" of Mrs. Arroyo and the five generals.

"The outcome will be another story," he said. "So let’s wait to what extent this thing will push through."

Speaking before the anti-Estrada Council on Philippine Affairs last Wednesday, Mrs. Arroyo disclosed that "she had been talking" with Reyes, Espinosa, Mendoza, Ebdane, and Berroya before Estrada was ousted.

Mrs. Arroyo presented plaques of recognition yesterday to Reyes and the four generals for their "roles" in the generally peaceful uprising that drove Estrada from Malacañang.

At yesterday’s 15th anniversary celebration of the 1986 people power revolt, members of cause-oriented groups urged the President to order the immediate arrest of Estrada. — With reports from Christina Mendez, Jaime Laude, Sandy Araneta