Today, a treacherous blow to democracy was struck by a mutinous few.

This crisis comes at a time when the Philippines has gained the attention and respect of the international community for being Asia’s staunchest advocate for democracy and peace.

Our people must not let this mutiny interfere with our collective aspiration for political stability and economic growth. The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has sent out a message to the rest of the world, that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is determined to deal with this crisis.

To our brother Filipinos overseas, we give our firm assurance that the operations of the Foreign Service continue as normal, and that the Constitution and its institutions remain strong.

The officers and personnel who undermined the chain of command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and deserted their posts have disgraced their uniform and have brought dishonor upon themselves.

In violating their oath to safeguard and protect the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, they have done a great injustice to our people.

A military adventure, no matter how puny its force, cannot be allowed to stand.  We condemn in the strongest possible terms this act totally devoid of a moral basis and contrary to the proudest and finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

We urge the soldiers staging this mutiny to look around them and see how isolated they are from the rest of the country and the world in this undertaking.

We urge them to surrender, and turn to dialogue as a means of resolving their grievances.