When the soldiers took over the Oakwood serviced apartments on July 27, they arrived "with their own supplies, food and water," said Robert Rosetti, Oakwood's Italian general manager.

"They came prepared for the long haul," he added, noting that the heavily armed soldiers quickly disarmed the hotel guards even as they promised not to hurt them.

Rosetti's statement appeared to buttress government assertions that the rebel soldiers had civilian backers who financed and helped plan the siege, aimed at ousting President Gloria Arroyo and replacing her with a junta.

Military officials said they also recovered some 30 million pesosUS dollars) worth of communications equipment left behind by the rebels at the Oakwood when the standoff ended 22 hours later.

Rosetti said the rebels kept their promise not to hurt the estimated 600 guests and 44 hotel staff, whom they later allowed to leave.

"We don't want to harm you, don't want to do any damage," Rosetti quoted his captors as saying. "Nevertheless, you have to do what we tell you to do."

"How much did it cost? We want to pay and compensate you for the damage," Rosetti quoted one of the rebel leaders as telling him shortly after the siege ended and they agreed to return to barracks and face court-martial.

The officer told him the money would come "from their own savings" and not from government finances, Rosetti said.

Rosetti said he believed the rebel soldiers, led by young junior military officers, may have had legitimate grievances against government and just wanted to have their story told.

Nevertheless the whole episode "was very traumatic. Trust me," Rosetti said.

WAR.WIRE