MANILA, March 12 (Xinhuanet) -- A group of retired military officers have been talking with the rebel militants of the New People's Army (NPA) for more than two years to discuss ways to overthrow the government led by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Philippine Army chief said on Sunday.

    "The talks have been ongoing for two and a half years, that puts us to about August and September 2003, even before the 2004 elections and immediately after Oakwood (mutiny) of July 2003," Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon told reporters on Sunday.

    Military documents have revealed that Army colonels Jake Malajacan and Rafael Galvez and retired Navy Capt. Felix Turingan, all involved in the failed coup attempts in the 1980s, forged a formal alliance with the Left last month, according to Esperon.

    The alliance supposedly calls for a transition government once Arroyo is ousted, he added.

    The military leadership has relieved Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim before he was able to lead Army officers and men in withdrawing their support from President Arroyo on Feb. 24.

    Esperon cleared Lim of any role in the conspiracy with the NPA to overthrow the government. However, Esperon said Lim could have violated his oath as a military officer when he planned to join the anti-Arroyo protest rallies and withdraw his support from the President. Enditem¡¡