Rogue soldiers face tough action by the Philippine government to discourage coup plots after moves to rehabilitate "habitual delinquents" failed, Defence Secretary Avelino Cruz said on Monday, according to Reuters. Cruz, a corporate lawyer before his appointment by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in August 2004, said reforms were also being made to insulate the military from politics, including a proposal to stop soldiers from counting ballots during elections. "This is not a soft or hard line approach. We're just trying to enforce the rule of law," Cruz told a forum with foreign journalists. "Rehabilitation only postpones the problem." The alleged conspiracy prompted Arroyo to declare emergency rule, which lasted for a week until March 3. Three commanders were removed, nearly 30 soldiers and police officers detained, and six leftist members of Congress investigated for rebellion. Intelligence officials have linked some opposition senators, religious leaders and members of previous governments to the plot but have not revealed any names pending an investigation. "We must sustain the clampdown on underground conspiracies until these are completely mopped up and wiped out," Arroyo said in a statement on Monday.
