Philippine military sacks Marine officer for organizing anti-Arroyo protest

    MANILA, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine military Tuesday sacked a Marine officer for organizing an anti-government protest on Sunday night at the Marine headquarters in Metro Manila, reported local radio DZMM.

    Colonel Ariel Querubin, commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, was formally relieved from his position, the report quoted Marine spokesman Melquiades Ordiales as saying.

    Querubin, who has reportedly participated in other military unrests in the past, organized a stand-off at the headquarters of the 8,000-strong Marine forces in Taguig City eat to Manila, after Marine commander Major General Renato Miranda was sacked on Sunday for suspected link to a foiled coup plot to overthrow President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

    The standoff ended after junior officers voted in favor of following the chain of command, a term referring to the hierarchy of the Philippine military with Arroyo being the commander-in-chief.

    Arroyo declared last Friday a state of emergency nationwide to foil coup attempts to overthrow her government. Enditem