DND, AFP deny knowledge of ouster plots versus Duterte

The Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines both have denied knowledge of destabilization efforts against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza and AFP Public Information Office chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo made the remarks following the launch of the Citizens' National Guard, a guard that is supposed to counter ouster moves versus Duterte.

Government officials, including Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, attended the group's event earlier this week.

Duterte himself linked Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's alleged offshore bank accounts to destabilization efforts.

Lorenzana said he was unaware of any destabilization plot.

“I dont know, I don’t know really (about any destabilization plot), we'll talk to them first, we'll find out what is the mission of their group,” Lorenzana said.

Arevalo said the military would be conferring with other government agencies.

“But in so far as the AFP is concerned, we have not monitored any such destabilization plans," Arevalo said.

He assured the public that they will thwart any attempt to destroy the government.

“The AFP will not allow any attempts that would tend to undermine the stability of our government," Arevalo said.

"We will frustrate any efforts that will cause the  disruption of our democratic way of life.That is and shall always be our commitment to the nation and our people,” he added.

Aguirre and Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda Acosta were among the attendees in the launch of Civilian National Guard earlier this week.

Among the enemies of state that the group want to protect the government from are ISIS-inspired terrorism, Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army, drug cartels, the political opposition, and foreign intelligence agencies generation international support for regime change.

“Like you and others, also the AFP chief of staff (General Eduardo Año), we just saw that on the news and also on TV so we are still trying to find out who they are, kung ano ba talaga ito, what is their purpose,” Lorenzana said in a press briefing after the handover of firearms and ammunition donated by China.

Asked if he already talked to Aguirre about the group, the Defense secretary said, “I was intending to ask him last night during the Cabinet meeting but we were so busy in other matters, hindi ko natanong ‘yan kung ano ‘yan."  —NB, GMA News