16 charged in alleged Philippine coup plot
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-27 16:23

Police filed charges of rebellion Monday against 16 people suspected of plotting to overthrow Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a state prosecutor said.

Among those charged were former opposition Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, a veteran of past coup attempts in the 1990s, five members of the House of Representatives, a communist rebel leader and some soldiers. They "conspired to overthrow the Arroyo government," according to prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco.

Arroyo on Friday declared a state of emergency to quash a coup plot by elements within the military and left- and right-wing civilian groups, officials said.