14.45pm update

Philippines' president 'still in control'

A day after a Manila shopping centre became the venue for an attempt by rebel army officers to force the government's resignation, the Philippines' president, Gloria Arroyo, today used her state of the nation address to remind the country she remained in control.

In a speech that won a standing ovation from the nation's congress, Ms Arroyo promised an independent commission to investigate the "roots of the mutiny" and the provocation that inspired it.

"Such actions are deplorable and will be met with the full force of law," she said.

It is alleged that supporters of Joseph Estrada, the disgraced ex-president who was ousted in January 2001 by a military-backed "people-power" uprising, aided and fomented the rebellion - and one of his key cronies was arrested just hours before Ms Arroyo's speech.

Police said that Ramon Cardenas, a member of the Estrada cabinet, owned a safe house for the rebel troops stacked with assault rifles, ammunition and the same red armbands used by the officers who took over the shopping centre.

Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, a former army colonel who led seven coup attempts in the 1980s, is also suspected of helping the mutineers but he has strongly denied the accusation.

The rebellion, staged by officers who complained of corruption and misconduct in the upper ranks of the military and government, ended last night without bloodshed after a 19-hour stand-off in Manila's financial district.

Coups, attempted coups and rumours of coups are fairly commonplace in the Philippines - there have been eight military uprisings and coup attempts since Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in 1986 - but Ms Arroyo had remained unchallenged until the weekend.

Around 3,000 police officers and marksmen were deployed outside the congress building for Ms Arroyo's speech as protesters outside danced, sang and burned an ugly 12-foot effigy depicting the president on the run.

Inside, however, the force of her words immediately fuelled speculation that she might reverse an earlier promise not to stand in next year's presidential election.

She did not mention her political plans, but pledged action to solve critical problems including terrorism, drugs, police reform, corruption, separatism and the struggling economy.

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