President Marcos: You are vulnerable to tanks, artillery
“WE WILL not stall our action very long — you are vulnerable to artillery and tank attacks.”
Thus declared President Marcos in his stern warning to “former” Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos in two consecutive press conferences in his study room at Malacanang Palace late last night.
Mr. Marcos urged Enrile and Ramos to “listen to reasons and stop this stupidity,” and to surrender while he is “still in control of the situation.”
“I would like to save the lives of Enrile and Ramos,” he stressed.
In the press conference, Mr. Marcos revealed that the act of Enrile and Ramos to “break away,” from his administration was triggered by Malacanang’s discovery of an attempt at a coup d’etat which apparently involved the two.
Mr. Marcos said that the coup was aborted because of the capture of “some of the military personnel involved.”
He presented Capt. Ricardo Morales, member of the Presidential Security Command assigned to First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, and Maj. Saulito Aramin of the 49th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
According to Morales and Aramin, the coup was planned and headed by Lt Col. Gregorio Honasan, Enrile’s chief security officer, as well as other Enrile aides including Lt. Col. Jake Malahagan, a certain Col. Kapunan, and Maj. Noe Wong.
From the statements of the two soldiers, the coup plan was as follows:
o The attack will take place at 12:30 a.m. (0030 hrs.);
o 30 minutes before the attack Aromin and a truck load of scout rangers under his command will arrive at Malacanang Palace through the J.P. Laurel St. side under the guise of augmenting security forces stationed there. They will be received by a Maj. Doromal who will give them their respective posts.
o At Zero Hour or the time of the attack, there will be a loud blast from Malacanang Park across the Pasig River, signalling the attack at the same time creating a diversion.
o A commando team headed by Honasan will attack from the Pasig River.
o Aromin and his scout rangers will attack from the J.P. Laurel side.
o Honasan and his team will storm the Palace and abduct the President while Aromin will lend him fire support.
o Other support for the attackers will come from the following:
— a battalion from Col. Noble via C-130 from Mindanao
— a battalion from Maj. Brillantes to take charge of reinforcements going to Malacanang
— Air force Maj. Razon will take care of any PAF operatives who will be sent to Malacanang
— Col. Paredes will prevent any Marines reinforcements for Malacanang
— Helicopters will also be available for support but both were not clear who will take care of them.
Mr. Marcos said that of the four battalions to be used for the coup, three had already been neutralized.
Mr. Marcos expressed “sadness” over the actions of Enrile, Ramos and the other officers and men involved in yesterday’s incident. “I can’t believe that they (Enrile and Ramos) are in this plot or as guilty as Honasan and the others,” he said.
He added, however, that rebellion and subversion charges will have to be filed against those involved although there would be no need for him to use his extraordinary powers.
Mr. Marcos also said that the moment, there was nothing to indicate that civilian officials were involved with the aborted coup “except those belonging to the Opposition” which he said encouraged and supported the move.
