Timeline of events: PP 1017

February 24, 2006, Friday 3:00 AM: Members of the Police Security Protection Office attempted to transfer former President Joseph Estrada from the the San Juan Medical Center to his house in Tanay, Rizal. Estrada, who was scheduled for an eye operation later that day, refused to go with them. Around 6:00 AM: AFP confirmed rumors of a destabilization plot. AFP C/Gen. Generoso Senga disclosed that BGen. Danilo Lim, commander of the Army's elite 1st Scout Ranger regiment; and Col. Ariel Querubin, commanding officer of the 1st Marine Brigade, were planning to participate in the EDSA I anniversary rally and announce their withdrawal of support from President Arroyo. Lim was relieved of his post and placed under Senga's custody; Querubin denied involvement in the coup plot. Around 9:30 AM: Rallyists converged at the EDSA shrine and held their program in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of EDSA I. Another group of rallyists made their way along EDSA-Santolan. President Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1017 declaring a state of national emergency "in the wake of the discovery of a plan by a few misguided elements in the AFP, in conspiracy with the Left (NDF-CPP-NPA) to overthrow the government." She also issued General Order No. 5, directing the AFP and PNP "to suppress and prevent acts of terrorism and lawless violence." All rally permits and permits to carry firearms were cancelled. Police dispersed rallyists at the EDSA Shrine and at EDSA Santolan. Past 4:00 PM: State prosecutors filed coup d' etat charges against former Sen. Gregorio Honasan and other individuals before the Makati Regional Trial Court. The charges were for their alleged involvement in the Oakwood Mutiny in July 2003. February 25, 2006, Saturday Police raided the office of The Daily Tribune in Ermita, Manila and confiscated a few hundred copies of the publication. PNP checkpoints were set up near the vicinity of television stations GMA 7 and ABS-CBN 2. Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran was picked up for questioning in San Jose del Monte,Bulacan along with his wife, Rosario. He was brought to the CIDG headquarters and later detained on chargesof inciting to rebellion filed against him on October 7, 1985. Retired national police chief, General Ramon Montaño, was arrested while playing golf at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Golf buddy Rex Piad, a former police official, volunteered to accompany Montaño to Camp Crame. Police also attempted to arrest Bayan Muna Reps. Rafael Mariano and Satur Ocampo. Former President Fidel Ramos called President Arroyo's state of emergency declaration an "overkill". Former President Cory Aquino led the celebration of the 20th anniversary of EDSA I in Ayala, Makati. In a short speech, she reiterated her call for President Arroyo to step down. February 26, 2006, Sunday Malacañang released a "chronology of conspiracy", its own version of the events that led to the issuance of Proclamation 1017. According to the Malacañang timeline, the plot to overthrow the government was allegedly hatched by the communist underground, certain military officers and some members of the political opposition. Disgruntled Marines led by Col. Ariel Querubin protested the relief of Marine Commandant MGen. Renato Miranda. Querubin refused to recognize the newly installed marine commandant, BGen Nelson Allaga, and called on the people to protect the marines. The stand-off at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio ended when Allaga emerged from a private meeting with Querubin and announced that the Marines as a unit will adhere to the Constitution. February 27, 2006, Monday The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed rebellion/insurrection charges before the Department of Justice against persons allegedly involved in the attempt to overthrow President Arroyo. Among those charged were 51 top leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines and party-list Reps. Rafael Mariano, Satur Ocampo, Crispin Beltran, Teodoro Casiño, Liza Maza, and Joel Virador. Petitions questioning Proclamation No. 1017 were filed separately before the Supreme Court by UP professor Randolf "Randy" David et al.; Alternative Law groups, Inc.; and The Daily Tribune and its publisher-editor in chief Niñez Cacho-Olivares. Named respondents were President Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, National Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz II, PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao, and AFP Chief of Staff Generoso Senga. Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador was arrested while re-booking his ticket at the Philippine AirLines main office at the Ateneo de Davao University building in Davao City. He was brought to CIDG office. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte went to the CIDG and informed the officials he would personally escort Virador to Manila. Accompanied by Duterte and CIDG officials, they took the last flight to Manila, and was brought to the House of Representatives office. Reps. Ocampo, Casiño, Virador, Mariano and Maza placed themselves under the protective custody of the House of Representatives through Speaker Jose de Venecia. February 28, 2006, Tuesday Former Senator Loren Legarda filed a petition questioning Proclamation 1017 before the Supreme Court, the fourth such petition filed since President Arroyo declared a state of emergency. The Supreme Court said it will conduct a public hearing on the petitions on March 7, 2006. March 1, 2006, Wednesday President Arroyo said she will lift her proclamation of a state of national emergency "as soon as possible." She gave Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao 24-72 hours to submit their assessments of the overall security situation nationwide. March 2, 2006, Thursday Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and PNP Director Gen. Arturo Lomibao said that the threats to national security had subsided since the President issued Proclamation 1017; if the situation continues to normalize, they will recommend to President Arroyo the lifting of the state of emergency. March 3, 2006, Friday Two separate explosions rocked the Eastern Police District office in Pasig. 10:30 AM: President Arroyo lifted the state of national emergency. May 3, 2006, Wednesday In a decision, the Supreme Court declared Proclamation 1017 constitutional but the acts committed in its implementation unconstitutional May 2006 The Office of the Solicitor General files a motion for partial reconsideration on theSupreme Court decision. It was dated May 21, 2006. In the motion, Solicitor- General Antonio Eduardo Nachura argued that the President could validly call upon the military to suppress "acts of terrorism" even with the absence of a legal definition of the term. The motion also sought the reversal of the part of the ruling declaring as illegal the alleged takeover of the Daily Tribune. KMU followed suit. The KMU motion was dated May 31, 2006. June 6, 2006, Tuesday The Supreme Court denied with finality the partial motions for reconsideration filed by the Office of the Solicitor General and the Kilusang Mayo Uno, et al "as the basic issues raised therein have been passed upon by this court and no substantial arguments were presented to warrant the reversal of the questioned decision." -GMA News Research