Linking critics to Red October destab plot a Martial Law tactic —Robredo

Linking all forms of political opposition and criticism against the government to ouster plots against President Rodrigo Duterte is a tactic used in the Martial Law regime to silence the opposition.

Vice President Leni Robredo made the statement on Tuesday following the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) claim of a "Red October" ouster plan.

"Red October" and another ouster plan announced by the AFP on Monday were supposedly planned by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the opposition groups Liberal Party (LP) and the Tindig Pilipinas coalition.

"Baseless allegations that link my involvement in legitimate opposition activities with illegal actions, particularly when they come from high ranking military officials, undermine not just the opposition but also our democracy," Robredo said.

READ: Pahayag ni Vice President @lenirobredo kaugnay ng umano'y planong pagpapatalsik kay Pangulong Duterte. | via @wengsalvacion pic.twitter.com/4N3d2dQvJX

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 24, 2018

"We must recall that branding critics as criminals was the same draconian tactic employed by the Martial Law Regime to strip the opposition of its voice. And that this silencing of the opposition was a prelude to establishing a regime of corruption, abuse, and dictatorship," she continued.

The vice president said the AFP took an oath to protect Filipinos, defend the Philippines' democracy, and uphold its Constitution while avoiding the politicization of the military.

Robredo noted that ensuring a "free, independent, and critical opposition" by defending the Constitution is a duty upheld by the government's opposition and the AFP itself through their duties.

"Our men and women in the AFP took the same oath as me to uphold and defend the Constitution. Our first responsibility is to maintain fidelity to this commitment, regardless of any personal affiliations," she said.

Duterte accused the Liberal Party, communist rebels, and Magdalo group of planning destabilization efforts on September 21, the 46th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

A day before the anniversary, the military vowed to neutralize the CPP-NPA's alleged attempts to remove Duterte from presidency.

Malacañang supported the AFP's plan to form a body to execute their plans of exterminating communist forces and proclaimed that any military-backed civilian uprisings will not remove Duterte from office.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) expressed doubts about the veracity of the "Red October" plot. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News