Soldiers Mutiny, Seize Brigade HQ in Southern Philippines

MANILA — Mutinous soldiers seized an army brigade headquarters before dawn today in the southern Philippines. Chief of Staff Gen. Renato de Villa said the uprising was isolated to one base.

The Cabinet held emergency meetings and the military went on nationwide alert, De Villa said.

Soldiers of the 53rd infantry battalion took over the headquarters of the 402nd brigade of the Philippine army in Butuan, on Mindanao Island about 500 miles southeast of Manila, shortly after midnight, De Villa said.

Speaking on Manila radio stations, he said the mutiny was led by an army major identified only as Maj. Cerdeno and by a Lt. Batac. About 3,000 soldiers are based at the brigade.

Other details were not available because mutineers apparently cut off communication lines to Mindanao, De Villa said. He said he had asked Philippine airlines and shipping lines to suspend trips to the island.

De Villa said no other units were taking part in the uprising. President Corazon Aquino has survived six coup attempts since she took office in February, 1986.

“I think this is a small thing and we can control this,” he said. “We wish to inform the public that the armed forces is united. Except for this breakaway group, we are in control of all units in Manila and the entire country.”

He appealed to mutineers to surrender.

A bomb exploded at a water pumping station at the Philippine army headquarters in Manila early today, the 35th blast in the capital since last August.

Military officials have blamed dissident soldiers for the bombings and have said they might be a prelude to another coup attempt against Aquino.