Oakwood mutiny
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| Attempts at regime change in the Philippines (1970–2006) |
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Civil unrest (1970) |
The Oakwood Mutiny was a mutiny that occurred in the Philippines on July 27, 2003. A group of 321 armed soldiers who called themselves "Magdalo" led by Lt. Antonio Trillanes of the Philippine Navy took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center serviced apartment tower in Makati City to show the Filipino people the alleged corruption of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. They also stated that they saw signs suggesting that the president was going to declare martial law.
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[edit] Objective and Demands
Most of the mutineers were junior officers and young enlisted men from all branches of the Philippine military. By occupying a business center, they had hoped "that it would destroy business (both local and foreign) confidence and create uncertainty over the administration's ability to manage economic recovery". [1] Among their demands were the resignation of top-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Secretary of National Defense, as well as of the President herself.
[edit] Outcome
However, the bloodless mutiny ended unsuccessfully within 18 hours when the soldiers failed to rally support from the public or the armed forces. All soldiers involved surrendered peacefully and were charged in a general court martial.
More than a year after the mutiny, its leaders apologized to the president for the failed military rebellion. Arroyo accepted the apology, but ruled out immediate pardon and said their trial would proceed. The officers face sentences up to life in prison for the mutiny.
Then in November 2004, President Arroyo ordered 133 of the 321 soldiers freed, saying they were deceived by their officers into joining the mutiny. But insiders say that this was made possible through backchannel negotiations in the wake of the Magdalo leaders' apology.
[edit] Criticism
The mutineers were criticised for their immature and amateurish judgments and political understanding regarding their claims that the president was going to declare martial law. They were also widely criticized for attempting to further destabilize the country's shakey democracy and sabotaging the already weak economy. However, a survey following the mutiny found that 55% of the population believed that the grievances expressed by the mutineers were justified.
