Aquino hits back at claims of plot against Arroyo
Former president dismisses 'wild' allegations of kidnap plan
The Philippines' justice secretary and a senator have accused former president Corazon Aquino of plotting to kill or kidnap Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a bid to seize the presidency.
Raul Gonzalez accused Mrs Aquino of plotting the power grab with Senate leader Franklin Drilon, her former justice chief. Mr Gonzalez's claims, made on Saturday, were backed up by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who said she had an 'impeccable' source.
Both Mrs Aquino and Senator Drilon have denied the claims.
If President Arroyo did not step down or was not ousted by a military coup by October 15, then both would have her 'removed physically' from office, Senator Santiago said.
'Of course, 'physical removal' refers to assassination,' said Senator Santiago, a former judge. 'Hence I told President Arroyo that she should beef up her security.'
She said her source, a relative of Senator Drilon, 'even boasted that President Aquino has strengthened her ties with military generals'.
Senator Santiago said Mrs Aquino's motive was retaliation against the Arroyo government's moves to take over the Aquino family's 5,000- hectare Hacienda Luisita sugar estate. The estate has been racked by a labour dispute.
Mr Gonzalez said his own spies had warned him of a similar plot. 'If they can't oust the president by October 15, they will resort to kidnapping and holding her hostage,' he claimed.
Both alleged conspirators issued denials at the weekend. Mrs Aquino said: 'Miriam really has a wild imagination.'
Last Friday, Mrs Aquino delivered a speech to students in which she said: 'I am not anti-GMA [Mrs Arroyo], I am pro-truth.'
Three months ago, Mrs Aquino urged Mrs Arroyo to step down over wiretapped conversations in which the president was heard ordering an election commissioner to ensure her a million-vote margin in the presidential polls.
Senator Drilon also issued a statement saying: 'I vehemently deny the fantastic claim of Senator Santiago that I am part of a plot to assassinate President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo or to topple her through unconstitutional means.'
Another former president, Fidel Ramos, also dismissed as baseless the allegations of Senator Santiago, who accused him of cheating her out of the presidency in 1992.
The assassination allegations came after reports that the Arroyo government was laying the groundwork to impose martial law and arrest all its political foes.
In 1972, then president Ferdinand Marcos declared military rule after supposedly uncovering a plot to assassinate him.
