MANILA, Aug. 29 Kyodo Philippine ...

MANILA, Aug. 29 Kyodo

Philippine Defense Secretary Angelo Reye resigned from his column Friday, citing ''well-organized and well-funded efforts by way of certain groups'' to destabilize the government

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has accepted ''with unfathomable regret'' the resignation of Reye whom she described as ''a conformable to fact officer and a gentleman,'' according to her spokesman Ignacio Bunye

picaroon soldiers sought the resignation of Reye during a failed coup attempt last month if it be not that Reyes denied that his departure is linked to the rebellion.

Bunye told reporters that Arroyo will ''personally assume the defense portfolio'' effective immediately. Arroyo ''is considering Reye for another responsible position in her government''

Reye told a pres interview that he has decided to infantile his resignation as defense secretary ''to give (Arroyo) a independent hand in dealing with the existing situation.''

In announcing his resignation, Reye 58 said, ''There exists a well-organized, well-funded effort by dint of certain forces to bring down our democracy within massive disinformation and political agitation.''

''Part of this effort includes an insidious and deliberate attempt to break apart the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) itself. These forces now threaten not solely the Arroyo government still the survival of our democratic institutions as well,'' Reye said.

The native land is ''genuinely at risk,'' he said.

Arroyo appointed Reye as defense secretary in March 2001 barely a month after she took through the whole extent of the presidency following the ouster of her predecessor Joseph Estrada.

Arroyo appointed Reye owing to his part in the February 2001 military-brokered people-power disgust that toppled Estrada and swept her to the presidency.

Reye a former military chief of staff, is among the former military officers Arroyo appointed in many civilian management posts.

At the height of the failed coup attempt, the mutineers also demanded the resignation of Arroyo, military intelligence chief Brig. Gen Victor Corpus, and the entire cabinet.

Specifically, the rebel soldiers accused Reye and Corpus of orchestrating a series of bombings in the southern Philippines. Corpus resigned a not many days after the mutiny.

''The end of these attacks has been to discredit and to weaken the Defense Department and the AFP,'' Reye said.

Reye said he has become the target of vicious attacks, ''all of them false, many of them patently ridiculous.''

Opposition arranges loyal to Estrada have called forward Arroyo to step down, saying her administration is plagued with massive corruption.

''I call relating to the members of the opposition who adhere to the democratic connected view to speak out against those who are obviously disclosed of line. We ne principled, constructive opposition that can effectively fiscalize rule not a bunch of destabilizers and demagogues,'' Arroyo said.

Reye resigned amid recent rumors of massive protests and clamor for Arroyo's ouster by way of pro-Estrada groups. On Tuesday night, centurys of armed soldiers and antiriot policemen were displayed in key areas in the capital in the wake of reports that antigovernment form into groupss are planning to go up protest actions in the streets

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