MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 09 May) – The Philippine military on Wednesday barred two foreign journalists from a press conference of a detained coup leader now running for senator with politicians opposed to President Gloria Arroyo’s rule.
The duo -- Sebastian Facris, of the French International Radio and Douglas Bakshian, of the Voice of America, were accosted by soldiers after being prevented from attending the news conference of Navy officer Antonio Trillanes IV at a marine prison facility in Manila.
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, to which the two journalists belong, organized the press conference.
The military said foreign journalists are barred from entering Philippine military camps unless with security clearance from the intelligence service.
Filipinos are to elect their senators and congressmen and local officials on May 14, but the polls are expected to be bloody because of perceived massive cheating and vote-buying.
Trillanes is one of many military officers accused of trying to oust Arroyo during the so-called Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003.
More than 300 armed soldiers, mostly from the elite navy seal and army rangers, took over the Oakwood hotel in Makati City, the country’s financial district, to show the Filipinos the alleged corruption of the Arroyo administration.
They later surrendered after a peaceful negotiation that promised swift reforms in the government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. But after surrendering, all those involved in the failed coup had been detained and are now facing criminal charges. (Mindanao Examiner)
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