"I have news from a reliable source that I will be killed. My source is connected. He is a high-ranking government official," said Lieutenant Colonel Oscarlito Mapalo who is subject of a manhunt by the military.

Mapalo told reporters by telephone he would only surface if he was guaranteed a fair trial but said he did not believe he would get a fair hearing from the military chief of staff General Efren Abu after criticizing him over the military's promotions system.

The colonel went on unauthorized leave last month and faces arrest after he was linked, along with another officer, Colonel Jose Gamus, to a possible destabilization plot against Arroyo.

Arroyo survived a military revolt in July 2003 and won a fresh six-year mandate last year.

Mapalo said he went into hiding because "I heard from a reliable source that I would be arrested, detained and confirmed so they can link me to a destabilization plot."

He did not specify who was plotting against him.

Mapalo was restricted to quarters in September for publicly denouncing the institution's promotion system as biased and lacking in objectivity. However he slipped away from his guards and disappeared.

Military spokesman Brigadier General Alexander Yano denied that Mapalo was being hunted for any anti-government plot and said the colonel was being sought for the original charge of violating military rules by publicly criticizing the promotions system.

Arroyo crushed a bloodless mutiny by several hundred elite troops in 2003 and has since pledged reforms over alleged corruption in the military.

In recent months, several prominent military officials have been accused with alleged corruption including a former military chief of staff and the ex-military finance chief.

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