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Arroyo lifts Philippine state of emergency
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-03 21:37
The military has lowered its alert level in the capital from red to blue,
which requires troops to remain in "heightened" readiness, said Capt. Ramon
Zagala, spokesman for the National Capital Region command. Commanders outside
the capital were allowed to decide on whether to downgrade the alert level in
their areas.
U.S. Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop welcomed the end of the state of
emergency and said Washington looks forward to continuing to "deepen our
cooperation on important issues we both face."
Arroyo said she was forced to declare the emergency because "there was a
clear and present danger to the republic" as it marked the 20th anniversary of
the "people power" revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.
"One week ago, malicious destabilizers and wayward police and soldiers joined
forces to exploit the emotional celebrations," Arroyo said. "They had no other
goals but to sabotage our constitution and to destroy the legal government of
the Philippines."
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