'Leftist organizers' mobilizing people to disrupt Marcos inauguration —DILG exec

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is "taking seriously" reports that communist groups are plotting to disrupt the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on June 30.

In a statement, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said “leftist organizers” have been organizing in Tarlac, Cavite, Pampanga, and Laguna in the past weeks to mobilize people. He did not mention any names or groups.

"We are taking these intelligence reports seriously and we will do what is necessary to thwart any attempt to embarrass or discredit the forthcoming inauguration," he said.

Malaya made the statement after former rebels on Monday said that the communist group has started organizing farmers in Tarlac for the disruption of the inauguration.

The former rebels bared this during a media briefing organized by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC).

Malaya is NTF ELCAC's spokesperson. 

“We respect the people’s rights to free expression, peaceably assemble, and the exercise of their democratic rights but this has to be done within the bounds of the law,” he said.

“Therefore, we advise all protesters to hold their peaceful demonstrations in Manila’s designated freedom parks such as Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, Plaza Moriones, and Liwasang Bonifacio. There are so many to choose from.”

The DILG has tapped the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to augment the security forces during Marcos' inauguration as the country's 17th president.

Through its fleet, the PCG said it will dispatch rigid hull inflatable boats, aluminum boats, and personal watercraft to provide intensified maritime patrol in the vicinity waters off Manila Bay and Pasig River.

"Rest assured that the PCG will work side by side with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and other concerned government agencies to realize a safe, secure, and peaceful assumption of the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines," said PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu in a separate statement. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News