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MANILA, Philippines - Philippine police arrested an aide to disgraced former President Joseph Estrada (news - web sites) Monday and were investigating a senator for their suspected role in a mutiny by soldiers demanding the government step down. AP Photo AFP Slideshow: The Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (news - web sites) vowed to prosecute all 296 mutinous soldiers who seized a Manila shopping complex for 19 hours before giving up without a shot Sunday. Arroyo, who had threatened to crush the rebellion with tanks and sharpshooters, told the nation Sunday night that the peaceful squelching of the rebellion was "a triumph for democracy." "I assure the world that this event does not in any way injure our national security and political stability," she said in a televised address hours before she was to give her annual state of the nation speech Monday in which she was expected to stress her control of the country. She said that 296 soldiers, including 70 officers, were involved and that all would face prosecution based on "the articles of war." Already five junior officers, who organized the uprising, were questioned Monday under guard and will likely face courts martial, said army spokesman Lt. Col. Joselito Kakilala. The other mutineers were confined to barracks. About 3,000 police officers and sharpshooters took up position Monday outside the Congress building, where Arroyo was to speak. Outside the Congress, thousands of left-wing protesters called for Arroyo's resignation, saying she had failed to give land to farmers, control corruption and ease crushing poverty. "Arroyo only speaks of an illusion of growth," labor leader Elmer Labog said. "The people's call for Arroyo's resignation will continue to escalate, especially after the mutiny by young officers and soldiers." Protesters danced, sang and burned a 12-foot effigy of Arroyo with moving legs, symbolizing the president on the run. Police on Monday arrested Ramon Cardenas, a member of Estrada's Cabinet, who owns a house near Manila where officers found assault rifles, ammunition and red arm bands similar to those used by the mutinous soldiers in taking over complex in downtown Manila. Police described his residence as a "staging area or safehouse" for the mutineers. Cardenas was Estrada's deputy executive secretary during his presidency, which ended in January 2001 when massive street protests toppled him from power over alleged corruption. Estrada is now standing trial and his lawyers earlier denied he was involved in Sunday's uprising. Senior armed forces officials said civilians would also be investigated, including Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, a former army officer who led a spate of past coups. He has denied involvement in Sunday's uprising. The renegades had wired the downtown building complex ?home to some of the city's richest citizens, foreign businesspeople and diplomats ?with explosives and booby traps. The mutinous troops, who had complained of corruption and misconduct in the upper ranks of the military and government, demanded on national television that Arroyo and her government quit. But generals loyal to Arroyo sent in hundreds of their own troops, along with tanks and armor and the renegades gave up without a shot fired. The standoff paralyzed Manila's financial district. Jitters in the markets pushed shares down by 4 percent in early Monday trading and the peso plunged by 1.1 percent against the dollar. "It's a very negative signal we're sending to foreign investors," said Spencer Yap, assistant vice president at the brokerage BPI Securities. The 56-year-old Arroyo has repeatedly said she won't run in presidential elections next May. However, there have been rumors she may change her mind and such speculation may have helped prompt Sunday's mutiny. The Philippines has had about eight military uprisings and coup attempts since the "people power" ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Estrada was pushed from office to make way for Arroyo in 2001. Unlike those cases, there was almost no public support for Sunday's mutiny. Before giving up, one of main mutiny leaders, navy Lt. Sr. Grade Antonio Trillanes, said the officers were not trying to grab power but wanted to push for reform. He sounded bitter that only a few citizens turned out to support the rebellion. "It's frustrating to know that the Filipino people chose to be led this way," he said. "The corruption will continue. This will all be a show, but believe me, nothing will happen. There will be no reforms."
