Manila Peninsula Siege
The Manila Peninsula rebellion occurred on November 29, 2007. Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, General Lim and other Magdalo officials walked out of their trial and marched through the streets of Makati City, called for the ousting of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and seized the second floor of The Peninsula Manila along Ayala Avenue. Former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona also joined the march to The Peninsula Manila Hotel as well as some of the soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The siege was ended after the military stormed the lobby and the second floor where Rizal function room was located and Trillanes was seized.
The lobby of the hotel sustained much damage because of gunfire that rattled through its walls, windows and the main glass door was obliterated by an armored personnel carrier on the assault to serve Trillanes et al. their arrest warrants.
On December 4, 2007, David Batchelor, general manager of the hotel, announced the filing of damage suit within 10 days, as some estimated the damage at US$ 1.2 million or P 50.766 million. Meanwhile, even before the reopening, it already received guests’ bookings or 51% room occupancy. The Peninsula Manila is 77% owned by the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited.
On December 4, 2007, United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney stated that she would visit The Peninsula Manila: "Fortunately, the hotel, a great hotel, has opened again. I look forward to going there myself."
Read more about this topic: The Peninsula Manila
Famous quotes containing the word siege:
“One likes people much better when they’re battered down by a prodigious siege of misfortune than when they triumph.”
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941)