Marcos’ statement on mutiny

MANILA, Feb. 22 (UPI) — The following is the opening statement by President Ferdinand Marcos, who appeared on state-run television several hours after Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Armed Forces Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos staged a mutiny.

“I decided to appear over television and explain the present, current, tense situation triggered by these allegations of the former Minister of National Defense and the former Vice Chief of Staff saying that they were being arrested.

“There is no warrant of arrest against either of them. Their actions however do indicate now that they were part of an aborted coup d’etat and an assassination plot against the President and First Lady, which was supposed to take place tonight.

“And later on I will ask Captain Edgardo (prompted by aides) Ricardo Morales, escort officer of the First Lady who was a part of the plot, to read his statement in explaining the conspiracy to attack Malacanang and isolate or eliminate the President and the First Lady.

“The plot and conspiracy was aborted after our men captured some of the officers within the presidential security unit who revealed the conspiracy.

“At the same time we were able to neutralize without bloodshed three fourths of their force that was prepared to attack. This would mean about three battalions and it is now clear that when they learned that we knew the plot and had prepared for it they would have been massacred in the effort to enter Malacanang Palace and they would not have the force to penetrate our defenses so they aborted the attack and this was followed by this hiding out of the former Minister of Defense and former Vice Chief of Staff in the Ministry of National Defense building.

“Apparently all the participants in the conspiracy are now in that corner because we cannot locate the other participants.

“The situation is under control. All the commanders have now organized the troops other than probably the presidential security unit to liquidate and eliminate this force that is surrounding the Ministry of National Defense.

“I believe that since we have custody of some of these officers who have confessed and revealed the entire conspiracy they’re now trying to justify their position by talking about being arrested. I repeat there was no confirmed evidence that the Minister of Defense, former Minister of Defense, former Vice Chief of Staff were participants in the conspiracy.

“It is only when revealed the fact they they thought they were going to be arrested that we started connecting all the leads together.

“I would rather that instead of wiping out this corner of Camp Aguinaldo with hostile fire because it can be easily wiped out with simple artillery and tank fire without any of our own personnel being involved in the fighting. I would prefer we talk about how they shall be treated if they surrender.

“I call upon the Minister of National Defense and the Vice Chief of Staff to stop this stupidity and surrender so that we may negotiate exactly what should be done with them and their men.

“I am in touch with all the commanders in the field and they are all united in expressing their loyalty to the Constitution and to the President.

“I have nothing but sadness for those who participated in the conspiracy, especially the Minister of Defense and the former Vice Chief of Staff. We did not know that they could reach this height of treason and rebellion.

“I would hope that this sadness of mine will impress them with the fact that we have no intention to hurt them. They should now realize that we are in complete control of the situation.

“As I have said, if there were to be any fighting it would be a bloody mess but it would mean possibly the liquidation of all the men who are now in that corner of Camp Aguinaldo.

“I have told our officers who are commanding the troops that are ready to ring them not to move into Fort Aguinaldo. But we are guarding the entrance of Fort Aguinaldo and I have asked the camp commander, Col. Balbanero, to prevent any movement of any troops whether our or there.

“I wanted to talk to either of them but they were not available over the telephone.

“I am still willing to do so if we can negotiate this matter instead of fighting about it.

“May I now ask Captain Edgardo Morales to read a statement, Ricardo, I beg your pardon, to read his statement.”