Philippine Star

HOTEL SEIGE According to a November 30, 2007 news article in the Philippine Star, "Hotel Seige," Philippine Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former Scout Ranger Chief Brigade General Danilo Lim and their supporters were taken out of the Manila Penninsula Hotel after a seven hour take-over in Makati City. Government troops used tear gas and tanks to overrun the armed squad of former soldiers known as the Magdalo group who were once took over the Oakwood Hotel in the same city at the hours of July 27, 2003 led also by Trillanes. With the same grievances at hand. Calling the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo. The assault of the government force resulted on no casualties, though many civilians, including men from both sides and media sector were rushed for immediate treatment caused by the tear gas from the government soldiers and gun powders. The take-over started when Trillanes IV and Lim and some other Magdalosoldiers walked out from their hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court for their Oakwood mutiny case. They trailed theway to the Manila Penninsula Hotel, a few blocks away from the trialcourt, wearing the Magdalo red armbands.At the hotel, Lim reads a statement calling for the public to withdrawsupport of the Government.Metro Police chief director Geary Barias draw a 3 p.m. deadline for theMagdalo soldiers to vacate the Manila Penninsula Hotel and surrenderthemselves.The drama ended after a couple of hours from the deadline with thegovernment troops barging in full battle gears in the hotel  with Simbatanks and tear gas.Along with Trillanes  and Lim, captured were former vice presidentTeofisto Guingona and roman catholic bishops Antonio Tobias and JulioLabayen who supported the standoff throughout the drama.They were brought to Bicutan for questioning along with some media menwho were seen inside the Penninsula after the deadline. They werehandcuffed with plastic wires.Trillanes IV said, the struggle is not yet over.   He cited that the assault was ruthless. That the Arroyo administration will do anything to stay in power. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales indicated that those who supported and sitted with the Magdalo standoff  will be charge with sedition. Pointing out the personnel of the Makati Regional Trial Court that guarded the Magdalo soldiers in the hearing who allowed them out of the trial court and were seen wearing the red armband. The hotel siege has drawn the stock market down as investors were shuddered by the standoff. Check points, gun ban and an immediate curfew covering Metro Manila and regions 3 and 4A were then implimented for follow-up operations.