By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is not alarmed over the alleged attempts by some groups to push for a coup d’état, Malacañang said Tuesday.
During a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that the President has long been aware of the alleged calls for a coup, even before the Sept. 21 protests.
“Matagal na po niya ‘tong nalaman kahit naman po before pa ng Sept. 21 ay merong mga maliliit na grupo na nagsa-suggest ng ganito,” Castro said.
She cited the statements of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Philippine National Police (PNP) Acting Chief PLt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. that the uniformed personnel will remain loyal to the Constitution and the Chain of Command.
“Kinikilala niya (President Marcos) po ang kagalingan ng AFP at PNP at ang lahat ng kasundaluhan at kapulisan natin, at tiwala po [siya] na gagawin nila ang dapat at nararapat,” Castro said.
Brawner previously disclosed that retired military officials have reached out to him to withdraw military support from Marcos due to corruption in government, especially in flood control projects.
The AFP Chief stressed that democratic processes in the country are working, believing that cases will soon be filed against those liable for alleged anomalies.
“We support the advocacy of the President in the fight against corruption,” Brawner said.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday, Nartatez said that morale in the police force remains high. He said that no individual has reached out to him or his staff in relation to any ouster efforts.
“Pagka meron… puwede ko silang kausapin not to do it and what’s the basis,” Nartatez said in a media interview. “I don’t see any basis para patalsikin as well as sa pamumuno ng ating Presidente, it started during the July SONA, wherein siya na mismo ang nagsabi—to put a stop [to] corruption.”
No cover-up in flood control probe
Malacañang was also asked for a comment regarding the statement issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urging the government to uphold the integrity of the investigations of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Senate on the flood control mess.
The CBCP said that it “strongly opposes any attempt to preempt or derail the investigation through backroom deals, leadership takeovers, or selective justice,” referring to alleged attempts of a change in leadership in the Senate, which holds its own inquiry into anomalous flood control projects through the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Castro reiterated that Marcos created the ICI so that an independent fact-finding body will pursue the investigations without political influence.
“Hindi po ninanais ng Pangulo na magkaroon ng cover-up dito, ‘yan po ang ayaw ng Pangulo—ang magkaroon ng cover-up,” she said.
“Hindi po natin alam kung ano po ang gagawing proseso ng Senado dahil nasa kanila po ‘yan… Hindi po tayo makikialam sa ICI; may independence po ang ICI, pati po sa Senado,” she added.
The Palace official also underscored the Marcos’ directive to uphold transparency in the investigation but clarified that the President respects ICI’s own procedures.
“Hindi po puwedeng magdikta ang Pangulo kung ano ang gagawin ng ICI, baka sabihin ay dinidiktahan ng Pangulo ang proseso,” Castro said. “So, hayaan po natin na magdesisyon ang ICI—kung naririnig po nila ang clamor ng tao [na] maging open for public ang hearing nila, sila po ang may karapatan magdesisyon dito.” (with report from Patrick de Jesus / PTV News)
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