Trillanes: There may be plans to overthrow PNoy

Amid denials by top military officials, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday said there may be plans to overthrow the Aquino administration due to alleged restlessness in the military. "Yes (there may be destabilization plots). It is consistent with the information that we have gathered," Trillanes told reporters in a text message on Wednesday. He said this a day after Malacañang dismissed rumors of a coup d' etat stemming from President Benigno Aquino III's refusal to declare an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose members had killed over two dozens soldiers in recent attacks in Mindanao. Instead of an alll-out war, Aquino on Monday said that he will pursue "all-out justice" to address the successive atrocities against the military. But Trillanes, a former Navy officer, had said it is likely that the soldiers are disappointed with Aquino for not coming out with a stronger statement regarding the issue. He noted, however, that he "seriously doubts" the alleged destabilization plot would "go beyond a coup rumor." "Admittedly, the morale is low right now, (but) this is but normal and will probably wane soon. [The decision to allow the military] to conduct pursuit operations will help ease the soldiers' restiveness," he said. "Let us remember that GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) committed far worse crimes against the soldiers and the people but these same disgruntled officers never even considered rising up against her. So, by and large, all is well," he added. Trillanes was among the soldiers who had called for the resignation of Arroyo during her term as president. Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, in an earlier text message to reporters, had said reports of restlessness among Philippine law enforcers was not true. "PNoy enjoys the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police; the MILF issue is not a reason at all to cause destabilization of his leadership," said the senator, who used to head the PNP. Last Tuesday, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang said rumors of restlessness and demoralization in the military were just being exaggerated by some "elements." Former Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. had claimed the military was demoralized following the death of 19 soldiers in the clash in Al-Barka, Basilan, early last week. Dismayed by the military's performance that led to the deadly clash, Aquino relieved from their duties Parlade and Col. Alexander Macario, who was commander of Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) Basilan. Mere rumor Sen. Gregorio Honasan, a former military colonel, said there is no basis for assuming there are destabilization plots. "I consider it a rumor. To my mind, [the military] is very, very intact. The Armed Forces is solid behind the Constitution, and the commander in chief who represents the Constitution," he told reporters in an interview on Wednesday. "Nobody just makes a statement like that without adequate basis. (In the military there is a method of) classifying information, which verifies the authenticity, reliability of both the information and the source," he added. Honasan also said that if there really is a destabilization plot, it would not succeed because the root for the outcry is not that deep. "There is no credible personality inside and outside the military organization that can pull it off. Of course, the very last and critical ingredient is, will it generate popular support?" he said. But the senator said that the Aquino administration should just "ignore it and continue the hot pursuit operations and the all out justice but vigorously pursue the peace process." — LBG, GMA News