Word: rebels
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...scale of the uprising had surprised and panicked Aquino. Rebel troops quickly took over Villamor Air Base and blocked loyal pilots from taking off in their helicopter gunships. Fort Bonifacio fell. Minutes later, the rebels sent patrols down the runway of the neighboring international airport, effectively shutting it down. At the same time, two truckloads of insurgent marines led a convoy of cars and trucks toward TV Channels 2 and 4, about 20 minutes away in Quezon City. They entered the grounds of Channel 4, the government station, without being challenged; 45 minutes later Channel 2 was also occupied...
...privately owned network, the President said, "We shall smash this shameless and naked attempt once more. This nation must never again be allowed to fall into the hands of tyrants." At that point, the government counterattack began. Seven army trucks headed for Channel 4 and a fire fight with rebel forces there. Ramos and De Villa monitored the crisis from Camp Crame, the constabulary headquarters...
...American help was crucial to the Aquino cause, clearing the skies of rebel craft and allowing loyalists to consolidate their forces. In an interview late in the week, Aquino admitted that Philippine military planes had hesitated to strafe and bomb the rebel soldiers. When American might was clearly on Aquino's side, however, Philippine jets attacked rebel-controlled Sangley Point naval station, destroying eight planes on the ground. Their timing thrown off by the intervening U.S. forces, the rebels abandoned Villamor, Fort Bonifacio and the TV stations...
While many mutineers surrendered, others scattered throughout the metropolis, taking over three luxury hotels and holding positions against air and ground attacks near the Defense Department headquarters of Camp Aguinaldo. Declared Aquino: "We leave them two choices -- surrender or die." The rebels' reply: "We will fight to the end. Resign." Though the government insisted that the back of the mutiny had been broken, fierce and protracted fighting continued through the weekend. Camp Aguinaldo was set ablaze by rebel howitzers. The week's toll: at least 46 dead and 200 hurt...
...rebel officers "are not Noriegas," says Stanley Karnow, author of In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines. "They are not thugs by any means." While only about 2,000 rebel troops were involved in the rebellion, several other units declared themselves neutral in the conflict out of respect for Honasan's cause. Even if Gringo's latest attempt to seize power is thwarted, says Karnow, "the symptoms of malaise within the military will still be there...