MANILA — The supposed “Red October” ouster plot has been dissolved due to the government’s capability enhancement program, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez said on Tuesday.
“Yung isa sa batayan na nalusaw, at yung tinatawag nating (Our basis to say that it has already been dissolved is what we call the) capability enhancement program, (we saw an) indication of the ongoing awareness (of) the different people and the public. The people now, including the parents, are aware of this sinister act. And through this awareness, we were able to deter any violent mobilization,” Galvez told reporters after the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Committee (JPSCC) meeting with officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) held in Camp Crame.
“Kung makikita natin, ang target nila since nung (If we look at it, their target since) Sept. 21 is to have a critical mass. But because of the positive response of our students and other agencies, including parents, teachers, we were able to dissuade them,” he said.
PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde earlier assured that measures are in place to secure protest actions set on October 17.
While recognizing that rallies are part of the country’s democracy, he said the PNP has the duty to ensure peace and order, both for those participating in these activities and those who are not.
Albayalde advised members of the labor sector not to be swayed by calls of left-leaning groups to join mass actions.
“Ang akala nila kapag na-paralyze yung production at nagkaroon tayo ng economic crisis, ang turo dyan sa Presidente na naman. Hindi nila alam na nawawalan tayo ng trabaho, yung ordinaryong Pilipino at saan naman kukuha ng pagkain ng ating mga pamilya (They think that if production is paralyzed and an economic crisis happens, our President would be the one to blame. They do not know that we are the ones who will lose jobs, especially the ordinary Filipinos. How will we feed our families then?)” he added. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
