Military to let Pres. Duterte deal with Magdalo members in gov't —official

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will let President Rodrigo Duterte deal with the Magdalo group, which is allegedly linked to a destabilization plot against the government, a ranking official said Friday, noting that some members of the group are now part of the government.

"They (Magdalo) are in government now, and we will leave it to the President to deal with them," said Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr, the AFP deputy chief of staff for operations, at a news forum.

Parlade refused to speak ill of Duterte’s appointees in government who are members of Magdalo group, a bunch of soldiers involved in multiple coup attempts during the Arroyo administration.

Among them were Office of Civil Defense Undersecretary Nicanor Faeldon, Assistant Director Milo Maestrecampo of Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Director Gerardo Gambala of the Office of Transportation Security, and Chairman Danilo Lim of the Metro Manila Development Authority, among others.

Also members of the group are opposition lawmakers Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Representative Gary Alejano.

Parlade said Alejano had personally assured him that the group is not part of any destabilization plot.

"Sinabihan na ako ni Congressman Alejano, pumasyal sila sa amin, and he explained… he affirmed that they won’t join any destabilization plot," he said.

"Kaya siya Congressman, kasi gusto niyo ipaglaban ang mga issue sa Congress, which is good, which is very good,” Parlade added.

The military official's statement came despite Duterte's earlier pronouncement that he would disclose evidence to prove that the Magdalo group, the rest of the political opposition, and communists were conniving to oust him from Malacañang. 

Parlade’s comments were made even if Trillanes, a former Navy officer, is battling possible arrest in courts due to Duterte’s issuance of Proclamation 572 three weeks ago which voids the amnesty granted to the former mutineer by then President Benigno Aquino III and Congress eight years ago.

Trillanes is a staunch critic of President Duterte, accusing the Commander-in-Chief of endorsing extra-judicial killings in the guise of a drug war and accumulating ill-gotten wealth.

Proclamation 572 voids Trillanes’ amnesty based on his supposed failure to apply for amnesty and admit guilt to his crimes. Records from the Defense department, however, have shown that Trillanes applied for amnesty, he admitted guilt in all violations of law, and that his application for amnesty is found in order.

The Duterte administration, however, was eventually able to secure a certification from the Department of National Defense, under a new leadership, stating that the agency has no records of the senator's amnesty application.

It was Parlade who revealed the alleged Red October plot which is a plot to oust President Duterte supposedly led by the communists, and that communists are reaching out to legitimate opposition groups as well as farmers, laborers and fisherfolks to mobilize forces to unseat the Chief Executive.

Parlade has said that he exposed such plot to nip it in the bud.

“If we did not do that, we will be accused of being remiss of our job despite our huge intelligence fund,” Parlade said.

Further, Parlade clarified that the military is not after protecting Duterte but protecting the country’s institutions.

“Being political is not protecting the President. It is protecting our institutions, including the Office of the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives,” Parlade added. — MDM/KBK, GMA News