Palace sees no coup threat despite AFP ‘demoralization’

(Updated 2:57 p.m.) Malacañang on Tuesday dismissed the possibility of a coup d’etat after President Benigno Aquino III refused to declare an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) despite its recent attacks on government troops. “May tiwala kami na naiintindihan ng ating mga sundalo ito. May tiwala kami na wala sa kanila ang may gusto ng gulo," said Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, in an interview with “News To Go" anchor and GMA News Online editor-in-chief Howie Severino. Instead of an all-out war, Aquino on Monday said that he will pursue "all-out justice" to address the successive attacks by some elements of the MILF against the military that resulted in the deaths of over 30 soldiers and civilians. "Naniniwala rin sila (sundalo) na ginagawa naman natin ang tama [at] ang lahat ng magagawa natin," said Carandang.
Exaggeration Carandang said rumors of restlessness and demoralization within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were just being exaggerated by “some people." "Hindi natin maiiwasan na may magagalit doon sa MILF, [pero] sa tingin ko hindi dapat masyadong bigyang pansin itong mga pinalalaking issue ng iilan na sinasabing demoralization... it's not as big as sometimes portrayed by some people to be," he said. “Meron po kaming suspetsa po namin na sinasakyan itong issue na ito ng mga ilang elemento na gustong guluhin ang Armed Forces," he added. In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte echoed Carandang’s claim, saying they have received reports that “there are those who wish to take advantage of the situation for political leverage. “We are aware that there are efforts to do this," Valte said at a press briefing. “Alam namin na merong nagsusubok. There are those who are trying to ride on the issue, merong nanggagatong, aware tayo dyan. To what end, we don’t know." She said these people “are trying to spread misinformation and trying to take advantage of the situation in a sense na ito yung mga …they are trying to arouse emotions." Asked who those people or groups are, Valte said she is not prepared to identify them. She said Malacañang is still verifying the reports and it is not alarmed with it. Carandang said the military leadership is addressing the concerns of the soldiers regarding the attacks. At the same time, it is also investigating the possible lapses of the soldiers during the clashes. Low morale Former Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. had earlier admitted that the military was demoralized following the deaths of 19 soldiers in a clash with MILF members in Basilan last week — the highest number of military fatalities in nearly five years. Aquino expressed dismay at the performance of the military and relieved Parlade from his duty. Also relieved was Col. Alexander Macario, commander of Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) in Basilan. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer, has confirmed that the morale of the military is “low" following the government’s refusal to declare an all-out war against the MILF. He said it is likely that the soldiers are disappointed with Aquino, their commander-in-chief, for not coming out with a stronger statement regarding the issue. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, however, said reports of restlessness among the military and even in the police force were not true. "PNoy enjoys the support of the AFP and PNP, the MILF issue is not a reason at all to cause destabilization of his leadership," said Lacson, who used to head the Philippine National Police, in a text message to reporters. He added that only massive government corruption can lead to a military uprising similar to the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny, where Trillanes was among the core leaders. - with Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News