Manila - A human rights lawyer and four former military and police officers have been arrested in the Philippines over an alleged new plot to overthrow the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, officials said Thursday. 

Human rights lawyer Homobono Adaza, fugitive military colonels Oscalito Mapalo, Cesar De la Pena and Ernie Amboy and ex-police senior superintendent Rafael Cardeno were arrested Wednesday in a shopping mall in Manila. 

The five suspects were arrested on allegations they were part of a new plot to launch a coup d'etat against the Arroyo government, said Director General Avelino Razon, national police chief. 

"Even as we speak follow-up operations are ongoing to get to the bottom of this new coup plot," Razon said. "We have reason to believe that they are plotting against the government." 

Razon said criminal charges were being prepared against the five suspects. 

Arroyo - considered by most Filipinos as the most corrupt president the country has ever had, according to a national survey in December 2007 - has been hounded with failed impeachment bids and coup plots for the past five years. 

Aside from facing allegations she cheated in the 2004 presidential elections, Arroyo, her husband and close political allies have also been accused of involvement in anomalous government contracts. 

Last year, Arroyo was forced to cancel a government deal with China's ZTE Corporation after it was revealed in a Senate inquiry that her husband and a close associate allegedly received millions of dollars in commission to ensure the Chinese firm bagged the contract. (dpa)