[JURIST] Forty-nine leftist Philippines politicians, including six current lawmakers and former Senator Gregorio Honasan [Wikipedia profile], face charges of rebellion for allegedly conspiring with the Communist Party of the Philippines [Philippine Revolution profile] to kill and replace President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [official website], officials announced Monday. According to Senior State Prosecutor Emmanual Velasco, the accused "established a tactical alliance" and conspired since 1990 to rebel against the government, culminating in a coup plot in February which led to Arroyo's controversial state of emergency declaration [JURIST report].

The accused lawmakers have denied the charges and contested the treatment of the case by the Philippines Justice Department [official website] as failing to conform to procedural requirements of the law. They also claim to have filed a motion to suspend proceedings Monday. AP has more. The Manila Times has local coverage.