Palace, AFP, PNP belie alleged plot to topple Aquino govt

Officials from Malacañang, the military and the police on Friday disclaimed reports that groups are out to undermine and topple the government of President Benigno Aquino III. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Palace has not heard of any destabilization plot against the government as of the moment, but assured that the Department of National Defense (DND) will investigate such claims. “If there is any information to that effect, then people should feel free to approach DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin," Lacierda said in press briefing on Friday. The Palace spokesperson made the statement after retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz aired a public warning that certain groups are closely monitoring Aquino's presidency and are waiting for the right time to topple it. Cruz, who earlier exposed the persistence of jueteng operations under Aquino’s administration, refused to identify specific groups or people behind the supposed destabilization plot, although he hinted that the groups are composed of candidates who lost during the past polls, as well as members of leftist organizations.
An official from the National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines likewise dismissed Cruz’s claims, saying that only legal “opposition" groups exist in government. “As of now, we have not received any report to that effect. Only, there are certain (groups) that previously said that they will be acting as active opposition, as a political opposition, not extra-legal (group)," NCRCom commander Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero said in a separate interview. He however said that the NCRCom will verify these reports just the same, since it is part of his command’s duty to protect the country’s capital region. Philippine National Police spokesperson Agrimero Cruz Jr., for his part, assured the Aquino government of continued support from the police organization, but said that the PNP will likewise look into reports of the supposed destabilization plot. “Wala po tayong naririnig o nararamdaman na unrest sa ating organisasyon. Atin pong tatawagin ang atensyon ng ating intelligence units para i-validate ang mga impormasyong ito," he said in a separate television interview on Friday. (We don’t hear or sense any sign of unrest in our organization. We will call the attention of our intelligence units to validate these pieces of information.) The presidency of Aquino’s mother, the late Corazon Aquino, was marred by several failed coup attempts. Three similar attempts that involved rebellious military officers and units, meanwhile, were foiled during the administration of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV