The League of City Mayors of the Philippines is behind President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo despite the calls of Oakwood mutiny leader-turned-senator Antonio Trillanes IV for her to step down from Malacañang.

Mayor Hector Villanueva of Bais City , Negros Occidental, yesterday said that league president, Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr., called him up after the Magdalo soldiers took over the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati , Thursday afternoon.

Villanueva said the league is supporting Arroyo, who was urged to resign by the renegade Magdalo soldiers led by Trillanes and Brigadier General Danilo Lim, and some civilians, including former Vice President Teofisto Guingona.

There are better ways to solve the problem, not by an uprising which will only affect the economy of the country, Villanueva added.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental under Senior Supt. Melvin Buenafe was on heightened alert during the uprising, as this is standard operating operation.

Buenafe assured Negrenses the situation was an isolated case, and the province remains peaceful.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, meanwhile, said the latest politico-military adventurism in Makati City will have a temporary effect on the market but will definitely not affect the economy.

Teves said he based his statement on the assessment of National Economic and Development Authority Acting Director General Augusto Santos, who reported that the economy is not only stable but “still growing.”

Teves pointed out that the country's economic fundamentals are robust as shown by the 42.80 percent economic growth in the third quarter, while the peso remains strong.

He added that, led by the services sector, the economy grew by 6.6 percent in real terms in the third quarter from a year earlier, and is expected to exceed the full-year target.*MA/RG

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