Spain slams Trillanes for uprising at Manila Pen

Hours before hosting a state visit by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Spanish government voiced Sunday its strong condemnation of the coup attempt led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in Makati City last Thursday. A Malacañang statement Sunday afternoon said the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation expressed satisfaction that the coup attempt failed and democratic and constitutional processes in the Philippines were maintained. "The government of Spain expresses its condemnation against the attempted coup d’ etat that has taken place in the Philippines, and expresses its satisfaction that the democratic processes have successfully been maintained," the statement said. It added it was relieved the situation was "resolved without loss of human lives." Mrs Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel, were scheduled to arrive in Madrid Sunday night (Manila time) for a four-day state visit, the first since Mrs Arroyo's father Diosdado Macapagal made one in 1962. She was to fly in from Tarbes, France where she made a brief religious pilgrimage to the Lourdes Grotto, a popular destination of Filipino Catholic pilgrims. Spain was to be the first leg of a seven-day European official trip for Mrs Arroyo. Her four-day state visit to Spain was meant to further enhance the economic, historical, cultural and diplomatic ties between Spain and the Philippines. Mrs Arroyo was scheduled to arrive at the Madrid Barajas International Airport at 4 p.m. (Madrid time) where she was to get arrival honors as a visiting head of state. Heading the welcoming committee in Madrid were Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miguel Angel Moratinos and Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Arias Romero. Other members of the welcome party include Director General for Asia-Pacific Foreign Relations of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jose Eugenio Salarich Fernandez de Valderama, Director of Madrid Barajas International Airport Miguel Angel Oleaga, aide-de-camp of the King of Spain Lt. Col. Ramon Alvarez de Toledo. On the Philippine side, Presidential Chief of Protocol Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., Philippine Ambassador to Spain Joseph Delano Bernardo and Mrs Bernardo will welcome Mrs Arroyo. After the airport ceremony, the first couple will depart for the Palacio Real de El Pardo, Mrs Arroyo's official residence during her state visit. In the early evening, Mrs Arroyo was to visit the Philippine Embassy and meet with the Filipino community at the La Salle Colegio Nuestra Senora de las Maravillas, then have a private dinner. On Monday, she is to receive welcome honors at the Palacio Real de El Pardo Front by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia at the Palacio Real de El Pardo Front Courtyard. She will address the joint session of the Spanish Senate and congressional leaders at noon Monday, then join the Royal Couple at a private lunch at the Palacio de Zarzuela after a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Plaza de la Lealtad. Mrs Arroyo will also receive calls by some officials and businessmen before her scheduled visit to the Madrid City Hall. A gala dinner hosted by the King and Queen at the Palacio Real de Madrid will cap her second day in Madrid. - GMANews.TV