Palace warns of ‘massive destabilization’ plot for 46th Martial Law anniversary

Malacañang on Monday warned of a “massive destabilization” plot from groups allegedly wanting to oust President Rodrigo Duterte in time for the 46th anniversary of Martial Law under the Marcos regime.

The nation will commemorate on September 21 the anniversary of the Martial Law declaration of former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972 that oversaw the commission of gross human rights violations, rampant corruption and disregard of civil liberties.

Marcos was ousted through a People Power revolt in February 1986.

“Ang pagkakaalam ko rin po ay talagang nagkakasa sila ng isang malawakang destab para po dito sa anibersaryo ng Martial Law ng Setyembre. Kaya nga po ang sabi ng Presidente, it would be in high gear pagdating ng Oktubre,” Roque said in an interview on Radyo Singko.

Roque belittled the plot given the President’s huge victory in the 2016 elections.

“Pero sa tingin ko naman po, sa laki po ng mandatong binigay ng taumbayan kay Presidente Duterte ay wala pong saysay na mangyayari dito sa kanilang mga banta, sa kanilang pinaplano,” the Palace official said.

“Malinaw po sa akin mismong personal na araw pa lang ng eleksyon ay talagang hindi po tinanggap ng mga dilawan ang pagkatalo nila. At day one pa lang ay nag-isip-isip na sila kung paano sila makakabalik sa kapangyarihan. Adik po talaga sa kapangyarihan,” Roque added.

Duterte earlier claimed there is a unified effort by the opposition Liberal Party, communist rebels and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to topple him from the presidency by October.

The President said the three groups were plotting for his removal, an allegation that was immediately denied by the LP and Trillanes who called the President “paranoid.”

Last year, Duterte called off classes in public schools and government work on September 21 and declared a National Day of Protest "in solidarity with the people's call against all excesses and shortcomings of the government, and with the people's desire to uphold the highest standards of integrity, efficiency and accountability in government."

Protesters converged at the Luneta Park in Manila to denounce Duterte’s bloody war on drugs and martial law declaration in Mindanao. —KG, GMA News