Opposition figures quickly heeded Colonel Ariel Querubin's appeal and showed up outside the Marine headquarters two days after Arroyo declared a state of emergency to forestall what she called an imminent attempt to overthrow her.

Querubin told journalists inside the Marine compound that he was protesting the resignation earlier in the day of the man in charge of the Philippines Marines, Major-General Renato Miranda.

Among the opposition figures seen outside the Marine camp were Arroyo's former vice president Teofisto Guingona and Congresswoman Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Inside the compound, former congressman Jose Virgilio Bautista, a prominent left-wing lawyer, was seen walking next to Querubin.

"I'll wait for all the people to protect us," Querubin told journalists, saying he feared "aggression" from unspecified forces.

"There are 400 Marine officers, and a majority support us," Querubin said.

Miranda had likely been forced out by the government because of a meeting on Friday during which the general dissuaded him from taking his men to join an opposition rally calling for Arroyo's resignation, he said.

Miranda, who was officially replaced for "personal reasons", was believed to be still inside the building and did not speak to a large media group broadcasting live from the scene.

Querubin and two other senior officers were relieved of their posts on Friday over what the government called a coup plot by "military adventurists" in alliance with communists and members of the opposition.

Inside the Marine compound, confusion reigned as another officer, a battalion commander also angered by Miranda's sacking, lined up a platoon backed by three armoured vehicles.

"We are demonstrating our anger over the sacking of our commander," shouted the lieutenant-colonel, who asked not to be named.

"Marines, don't shoot at fellow Marines," he told his men.

The Marine compound is in Fort Bonifacio, which borders the country's most exclusive housing area, including ambassadors' residences.

Brigadier-General Nelson Aliaga, the freshly sworn-in replacement for Miranda as Marine commandant, told reporters Querubin was an "internal matter" and vowed to arrest any rebellious officers.

Ricardo Saludo, a senior Arroyo adviser, insisted that Querubin would be "taken into custody" and said there were "no unauthorized movements" of troops.

Earlier Sunday, Philippine authorities warned of more arrests while the opposition vowed to legally challenge emergency powers assumed by Arroyo.

"Mopping-up operations are ongoing. Individual conspirators will be prosecuted and brought to justice," presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.

Presidential guards maintained a high alert around the presidential palace. Its main approaches had been barricaded since Arroyo declared the state of emergency on Friday.

The emergency declaration came on the eve of the 20th anniversary of a bloodless military-backed popular revolt that ended the 20-year Marcos regime.

Since the 1986 revolt, a series of coup attempts has hobbled the country.

President Joseph Estrada was overthrown in January 2001 in a bloodless army-backed popular revolt and Arroyo, his vice president, was installed as his successor.

Arroyo survived a brief military mutiny in July 2003 and overcame an impeachment complaint in the legislature last year over charges she stole the May 2004 presidential election.

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