AFP won’t be involved in destab plots — spokesman

The spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines assured the public on Friday that government troops would not be involved in the alleged destabilization plots against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

At the Mindanao Hour in Malacañang, Major General Restituto Padilla Jr. said the military would only be involved in “constitutionally-based activities or actions.”     

“At kung ito’y ili-link natin sa mga usapang destabilisasyon, ‘yung usapan na ‘yan na naririnig natin, hindi ho manggagaling sa hanay ng Armed Forces ‘yan,”

“Because we know that the commander-in-chief— we have a commander-in-chief who has malasakit for every soldier and is doing his end of the bargain of taking every… taking care of every uniformed men who are doing their job,” he added.

Padilla, meanwhile, said the military could not say if the communists and the Liberal Party members have indeed teamed up to oust Duterte.

“So, so far, kung ang ibig sabihin ng ating mahal na Pangulo ay ‘yung pagpa-plano, meron po kaming nakikita na iba. At hindi lang naman po ‘yung oposisyon ang ano dito. Kaya ang binabantayan po talaga ng Armed Forces ay ‘yung mga armadong grupo,” Padilla said, referring to the New People's Army and the armed elements in Mindanao.

“‘Yung sa side ng politics, may iba pong nagmo-monitor. At sa amin pong side, hindi po namin nakukuha ito kadalasan,” he added.

But he said that an alliance between the two groups could not be impossible.

“Because the groups that are against government are not only individuals. Kasi kaya nga groups, madami ‘yan. And it may not be far-fetched that one or two of them may be also assisting other groups that are against government,” he said.

Citizen National Guard

Padilla, however, said no to private armed groups, when asked about the launch of Citizen National Guard that aimed to protect the Duterte administration against “enemies of the state” and thwart destabilizations efforts.

“Siyempre, ang Armed Forces po maliwanag, against kami sa creation ng private armed groups kasi ‘yan… diyan nagsisimula ang kaguluhan na ngayon ay maaaring sabihin nila na ganito ang kanilang pakay pero later on ay mawawalay sila sa kanilang sinasabing gagawin,” he said.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta on Tuesday attended the launch of CNG, which said it was composed of military reservists and retired members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Padilla said he has yet to get more information about the group. While there was nothing wrong with forming a group, Padilla said it should not be armed. 

“Pero information-based lang, hindi sa armadong paraan. Kung gusto niyong mag-armas, hindi na po tama kasi nakasaad po sa ating Constitution na isa lang po dapat ang armadong grupo sa buong bansa. Ito lang ‘yung sundalo at kapulisan,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. in a statement said the formation of CNG was a “dangerous move” since it appeared to endorse armed violence against Duterte critics.  

“Is the DOJ endorsing the formation of a vigilante group of retired and reserve officers under the Citizens National Guard?” he said.

“Are they reviving the Alsa Masa-type vigilantes and training their guns at critics of the regime? Given the terrible state of human rights in the Philippines, a government-backed vigilante or para-military group seeking to counter Duterte critics is indeed a cause for concern,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News