MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Suspected anti-government units in the Philippines' armed forces are being broken up and recalled, threatening national security, reports said Wednesday.
Officers have been put under surveillance or reassigned for fear they might attempt to destabilize the government of President Gloria Arroyo, the South China Morning Post reported. Heavy armaments and transport vehicles have been recalled.
Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, whose regiment guards northern Manila against communist rebels, said he knew he was under suspicion, the newspaper reported.
Lim is the former head of the Young Officers Union that attempted a coup against President Corazon Aquino in 1989. The union's current leaders recently threatened to oust Arroyo, but Lim denied involvement with them.
Lt. Gen. Samuel Bagasin, head of a key unit in the south that battles Muslim separatists, recently was transferred to a desk job in Manila after complaining about the political situation.
Philippine National Police Director General Arturo Lomibao said on nationwide television that the government's efforts to block anti-Arroyo moves had distracted the military and police from their fight against terrorism.
