Ople denounced what he described as a "systematic attempt to destabilize the Arroyo administration" six weeks after the president quelled a July 27 armed mutiny by some 300 soldiers.

The campaign "is seriously hobbling the economy, discrediting the country's image abroad and keeping out foreign direct investments needed to create jobs for our two million unemployed," Ople wrote in the Manila Bulletin newspaper.

"The success of the coup attempts will definitely spell the end of Philippine democracy and the beginning of systematic repression and the threat of a civil war.

"Fortunately, there is not the slightest chance for a coup attempt to succeed."

Top Arroyo security aides said last week that they had foiled attempts by certain forces to bribe military officers into joining another plot against the government.

Arroyo has blamed opposition Senator Gregorio Honasan and the family of detained former president Joseph Estrada -- who she replaced following a military-backed popular revolt in January 2001 -- of being behind the July 27 mutiny. The two politicians have rejected the allegation.

Ople said, despite the most recent destabilization attempts, the military ranks have held "with a few aberrant exceptions", and insisted that the Southeast Asian nation "has never been as respected in the international community."

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