Marines colonel urges Filipinos to protect officers implicated in a foiled coup plot

(26 Feb 2006)
++DAY SHOTS++
1. Wide exterior of Marines headquarters
2. Close-up of sign on building reading "Headquarters Philippines Marine Corps"
3. Wide shot of Marines
4. Marine security at gate
5. Various of Marines
6. SOUNDBITE (English): Marines Colonel Ariel Querubin, Commander, 1st Marine Brigade:
"We just want people to support us. (Off screen question from reporter: For what?) For our beleaguered commandant, for the marines. If you want to support your marines, the protector of people and the state, then please come."
7. Marines marching
8. Group of Marines standing
9. Pan-up from close-up of gun to Marine
10. Group of Marines standing
11. Civilians watching from behind fence
12. Wide shot of jeep and armoured personnel carrier (APC) arriving
13. Cutaway of civilian onlookers
14. Wide shot of amphibious Marines vehicles arriving
15. Marines on top of armoured vehicle, zoom out as vehicle passes
16. Wide of armoured vehicle driving
++NIGHT SHOTS++
17. Wide shot of Querubin making 'thumbs up' sign, surrounded by crowd
18. Mid shot Brigadier-General Nelson Allaga, (named the new Marines commandant)
19. Various silhouettes of troops on top of armoured vehicle
20. Querubin surrounded by supporters
21. Civilian supporters outside Marine camp
22. Close-up of man singing national anthem, pan right to other people signing
23. Wide shot of container van blockade outside Malacanang presidential palace
24. Various of security checkpoint outside palace
STORYLINE:
Riot police sealed off the headquarters of the Philippine Marines on Sunday after a highly-respected colonel urged Filipinos to defy a ban on rallies and turn out en masse to protect officers implicated in a foiled coup.
The call came after the head of the elite unit, Major-General Renato Miranda, was relieved of his duties.
It was a sign that efforts to oust President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo remained alive two days after she imposed a state of emergency.
The highly-decorated Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin said he was joining Miranda in a show of support. A statement from the presidential palace Sunday said Querubin was to be taken into custody.
Querubin was named by the military on Friday as a key figure in plans by Marines officers and their troops to withdraw support for Arroyo.
"If you want to support your marines, the protector of people and the state, then please come," he said outside the Fort Bonifacio headquarters.
Marines armoured vehicles and some 300 Marines also arrived and went inside before the gates were closed. It was unclear where their loyalties lay.
Riot police took up positions outside the camp and sealed off a road leading to it.
Brigadier-General Nelson Allaga - named the new Marines commandant - claimed the situation was unrelated to politics, calling it an internal matter.
According to ABS-CBN, Allaga met Querubin inside the headquarters late Sunday in an attempt to defuse the situation.
Many opposition supporters including former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who resigned after breaking with Arroyo two years ago, gathered at the marine camp in suburban Manila and sang the national anthem.
They rushed to show their support, even though the state of emergency bans public rallies.
The Marines were widely rumoured to have been among military units involved in the coup plot.
The military intelligence said on Friday it uncovered the plan before it could be launched.
Military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Tristan Kison said Miranda asked to be relieved of duties, citing personal reasons. Other reports suggested he had been forced out.
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