Palace spurns use of military intel, says no widespread kidnapping 

There is no need to tap military intelligence to assist civilian law enforcement in gathering information against kidnapping syndicates, Malacañang said on Monday.

''Opo, dahil hindi naman po—wala pong widespread na pinapakalat din ng iba na may widespread kidnappings spree in the country, hindi po iyan totoo, malaki pong fake news siya,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing when asked if there is no need to tap the the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines amid kidnapping incidents. 

(Yes because the widespread kidnappings being peddled by some individuals are not true. They're fake news.) 

Castro echoed the police statement, saying, ''These are isolated, calculated acts rooted in personal and financial vendettas.''

Citing the 1987 Constitution, Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel said the President, as commander-in-chief of the AFP, had the power to direct military operations, including intelligence activities, concerning internal security and public order.

The lawmaker said that while the Philippine National Police remained the lead agency in maintaining internal peace and order in the country, military intelligence can still be used “when broader security concerns are at stake.”

This came following the recent kidnapping and killing of businessman Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo.

Three suspects in the murder of Que and Pabillo, are now under the custody of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group after two of them were arrested in Palawan on April 18, while another suspect surrendered later that day. —LDF, GMA Integrated News