Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, saying they could not in conscience allow the 500 guests and mediamen trapped with them inside the Manila Peninsula to be killed or injured, agreed to surrender to authorities late Thursday afternoon.

After two armored personnel carriers crashed into the lobby of the hotel following a tear gas assault, the pair opted to end what they earlier said was their last stand. The Philippine National Police was prepared to serve a warrant of arrest against them, which they would not contest.

Over live television, the mediamen holed up with the rebels were seen to be suffering from the effects of the gas attack.

The PNP supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines entered the hotel in full battle gear just before 6:00p.m. At that time, Trillanes and Lim addressed the public through the radio, TV and print journalists who were covering the crisis.

Trillanes said the Arroyo administration again showed what it was capable of doing to stay in power.

The former Navy lieutenant, elected as senator in the May ’07 elections, noted that he had not been allowed to attend Senate hearings despite the more than 11 million votes he earned.

He echoed the message of Lim to justify their actions. “Dissent without action is consent,” he said.