People should remain vigilant — Palace

While the supposed destabilization plot suffered a setback with the recapture of renegade Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, Malacañang officials said the people should remain vigilant against violent and extra-constitutional efforts to overthrow the government.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the assistance extended for the recapture of Faeldon only showed the sentiment of the people against any move for violent change.

"This (capture) shows that many civilians are helping our Armed Forces. They are deeply concerned (about) the current political situation that’s why they are helping in the search for the escaped mutineers and we value and thank such support from the people," he said.

Bunye, however, did not elaborate how the citizenry helped authorities track down the elusive Marine officer who had been on the run for 44 days.

Faeldon escaped from military custody during a break in a court hearing in Makati City last Dec. 14. He was recaptured Friday night while driving a car in Malabon City with Capt. Candelaria Rivas, a prosecution lawyer with the Judge Advocate General’s Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Faeldon had taunted authorities to recapture him by posting pictures and video footages on his Internet website showing him freely roaming military and police camps around the country amid the manhunt.

Bunye described Faeldon’s arrest as "a major security threat accomplishment" but called on Filipinos not to be lulled into complacency.

"The government, the Armed Forces, continues to closely monitor and investigate the current situation and we believe the overwhelming majority of members of the Armed Forces remain loyal to the Constitution and the chain of command," Bunye said.

For his part, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita predicted more "stabilizing developments" in the weeks to come following Faeldon’s arrest.

Ermita said the intelligence community, which worked hard to capture Faeldon, would naturally be silent in its operations as to details on the latest arrest.

"We can expect more stabilizing developments, especially after we secure information from Faeldon himself when he is being questioned," he said.

Asked to comment on reports that Faeldon continues to refuse to cooperate, Ermita said the defiant renegade officer "will cooperate sooner or later especially when he realizes that he was misled and came up with wrong ideas."

"Kung ang matigas na karne nga, napapalambot nang todo, siya pa kaya (If a tough piece of meat can be softened to a pulp, why not he)?" Ermita replied.

Several administration congressmen also expressed confidence in the ability of the AFP to capture the remaining Magdalo mutineers.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Benasing Macarambon and Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco said they had no doubts that after military agents arrested Faeldon, the four other Oakwood mutineers who escaped from detention would also be recaptured.

"Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Generoso Senga deserves praise for the capture of Faeldon. We affirm our support and trust in General Senga," the two lawmakers said in a joint statement.

They said Senga is trying his best to keep the military off politics.

This is the reason why some disgruntled elements who want him to meddle in politics have been attempting to intrigue him, they said.

Macarambon and Cuenco clamed the latest intrigue against Senga is that he would join those plotting to overthrow the Arroyo administration and install Senate President Franklin Drilon as acting president who would preside over the election of a replacement for President Arroyo.

For their part, Representatives Gerry Salapuddin of Basilan and Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City said it was just a matter of time before the four other Oakwood mutineers who are still at large would be recaptured.

Salapuddin said the mutineers should stop taunting the government.

"That was what happened to Faeldon. He haunted and criticized the government, but in the end, he was captured by military agents. This shows our military is on top of the situation," he said.

Salapuddin said the military’s job "is not yet finished because four mutineers are still out there and they even managed to send immediately a message through Faeldon’s website to continue his fight against the government despite his recapture."

Salapuddin and Domogan suggested that the military leadership should check on the classmates and friends of the mutineers who may be in contact with them. — Paolo Romero, Jess Diaz, Christina Mendez