A document recovered from the mutineers after the 22-hour siege on Sunday showed the first stage of the power grab would be to seize power through violence and then set up a 15-member "national recovery council," Golez told a congressional inquiry into the mutiny.

The council "appears to be a junta, that shall govern the country and with the chairman as head of state," he said, adding that the document showed that the rebels, led by young junior military officers, referred to themselves as the "new Filipino heroes."

"It involves the assumption of power by any means including extra-constitutional, including force and violence," Golez said.

The council would include men and women from different sectors but the plan made no mention of how they would be selected.

"As much as possible, damage to life and property will be avoided but when it becomes necesary in the accomplishment of the mission ... the patriots will not hesitate damage to life and property," Golez said citing excerpts from the document.

Nearly 300 military mutineers occupied part of Manila's financial district of Makati on Sunday, demanding the resignation of President Gloria Arroyo and other officials.

What the government called a coup attempt fizzled out 22 hours later, with the soldiers returned to barracks to face court martial in exchange for government to launch an investigation into their allegations.

Government officials have warned that the threat remained against the Arroyo government and that the sponsors of the uprising and other soldiers remain at large.

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