We all know what happened yesterday. This is just a first hand account of the event which lead to the arrest again of Senator Antonio Trillanes and his supporters.
At around 10Am, Senator Antonio Trillanes and other Magdalo soldiers are at the Makati Regional Trial Court when they walked out of the building and proceeded to the streets. They march their way to Makati Avenue. 
The soldiers were shouting “Sumama na kayo! Para sa bayan ito!” and people on the streets are cheering them. Obviously they know that something is not right with the current administration. However that is the best they did. The soldiers were asking them to join their cause but I guess people are just too busy with their own business they prefer to be spectators of what was unraveling in front of their very own eyes.
Along the way there are other soldiers who joined the group obviously in haste. Some are still in their shorts or maong pants.
The streets felt eerie as soldiers with rifles walk their way along the country’s Central Business District. Traffic stopped as they made march towards Ayala Avenue.
Just before reaching Ayala Avenue, the soldiers turned left towards Manila Peninsula Hotel. They were prevented from entering the hotel but the soldiers were able to enter the area. The glass door was shattered and the soldiers made their way to the lobby of the hotel.
At the lobby, Senator Antonio Trillanes and General Danilo Lim announced to the media the purpose of their actions. Lim said the die is cast. “…The Philippines is a democratic and republican state. Sovereignty resides in the people, and all government authority emanates from them. Thus, we take the fateful step of removing Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from the Presidency and undertake the formation of a new government…”
After the announcement, the group went to a room inside the hotel probably to talk their plans and to assess the situation. Media men were prevented from entering the area. Thus we waited for several hours for an update as to what was going to happen.
The situation inside the hotel was very tense. I checked what was happening outside by looking through a window facing Ayala Avenue and I saw soldiers running around the perimeter of the hotel.
Ironically, while the soldiers inside are very busy with the situation, guests caught inside the hotel having their lunch continued with their own business.
Soldiers with red band roam around the hotel to make sure everything goes as planned.
Almost all the soldiers I saw were texting or using their mobile phones, probably telling their families and loved ones that everything is under control.
Some soldiers shared biscuits with one another as they have not eaten any food since morning.
At around 3PM, NCRPO Chief General Gearie Barias entered the hotel asking all the guests and media men to evacuate the building.
He was however shooed away by Magdalo soldiers.
After that, the hotel management asked their guests to evacuate since the situation is getting worse already.
This couple who was to suppose to celebrate their wedding at the Manila Peninsula had to transfer to another hotel. The bride however said that the wedding will push through that night.
At 3:46PM, police authorities outside the hotel tried to serve a warrant of arrest to the soldiers inside. The warrant however was not received so they just shoved it at the front door.
After that, all the entry and exit points of the hotel was closed and tightly guarded by Magdalo soldiers. Police authorities are barred from entering the premises and no one is allowed exit from the building.
Trillanes went down right after that to see for himself what the situation was at that time. It was the first time he went down to the hotel lobby after they held themselves inside the room with other VIP’s.
The hotel lobby was almost empty that time except for media men who are still inside waiting for what’s going to happen. We heard that SWAT men are already preparing outside for an assault.
We are hearing gun shots from the outside already at this time and I together with photojournalist colleagues are already planning what to do if and ever police assault the area while we are inside. Somebody told us that we stay in a room or a toilet together. I however disagreed thinking that when SWAT barge in, they might just spray us with bullets thinking that we are soldiers. I though of this after remembering what happened to the clearing operation during the Bicutan Siege.
We agreed to just stay at the mezzanine of the hotel where we can just lie on our back and spread our arms and legs so as not to be seen as threat by authorities.
At quarter past four in the afternoon, some reporters tried to find exit as we hear gunshots being fired from the outside already. They were however stopped by soldiers.
Me and my colleagues were about to go up the mezzanine to wait for the assault when a hotel employee shouted “This way!” pointing to an employee’s exit via the hotel’s kitchen located at the basement.
We followed the pack and was soon on our way out. I was contemplating on staying inside the hotel but decided against it. I know how mad and irresponsible police authorities can be when it comes to assault like this and this is not worth the risk.
I only realized the extent of what was really happening upon exit from the hotel at around 430PM. The hotel perimeter was surrounded by police authorites, SWAT, airforce men, marines, and army soldiers. Battle tanks surround the area along Makati Avenue and they are starting to assault the hotel. It is a war zone.
Some of those trapped inside found also the employee’s exit at the basement and were soon out of the building. They had to get out since tear gas was spreading fast inside the hotel.
I stayed at the Sto. Tomas street knowing that my photographers from the same publication are spread in different areas of the hotel. I waited for news from colleagues as to the status of the situation. The assault continued until the evening as light rain falls outside giving us media people very little cover from the rain.
Around past seven, I called a colleague and asked what’s happening in the front line. He said it’s already over. A military APC rammed the main entrance of the hotel and Trillanes together with other supporters were already arrested. After more than eight hours, the conflict has ended. We live another day.
In an interview Trillanes said “If there’s a loser here it’s the Filipino nation because she’s still there.”
Trillanes probably is correct… What will happen to the Filipino people now?
