Govt continues ‘mopping up operations’ vs coup plotters

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales on Friday said the ongoing crackdown on suspected coup plotters is just a "mopping up operation" on "residual threats" against the Arroyo administration. Gonzales also said President Arroyo left the matter of cleaning up the ranks of the Armed Forces of alleged coup plotters because most soldiers are "angry with the adventurists in the military." "There is nothing to be alarmed about this detention of some few (military) officials and soldiers," Gonzales said. "What you see here is the Armed Forces dealing with the matter internally and let us leave them and allow them to do their work," he said. "This is a situation that does not need a political hand or intervention to handle these adventurists. They have a system in place to handle that," Gonzales added. He said the military officials who were arrested are remnants of rightist elements in the Armed Forces and can still be won over. Gonzales issued the statement as security around Mrs. Arroyo was tightened Friday with more guards—some in combat fatigues—deployed within the Malacañang complex. – GMANews.TV