MANILA — There is “no inconsistency” in the statements made by President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Carlito Galvez Jr. concerning the alleged “Red October” plot to unseat the Chief Executive, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after Galvez, in a Senate hearing, denied that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and other members of the Magdalo Group and the Liberal Party may be in collusion with communist rebels to oust the President.
Roque said while the Liberal Party, as a whole, might not have any formal agreements with communist rebels, individual members might still be in collusion with them.
“No inconsistency. I’m sure individual members of the Liberal Party, as the President said, may be in collusion with the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army),” Roque said in a Palace briefing.
“It could be true that there is no formal Memorandum of Agreement between the party itself and the CPP-NPA; it does not prevent leading personalities with the Liberal Party from having such collusion,” he added.
Roque said Trillanes himself has repeatedly called for the ouster of the President.
“We are convinced that some members of the LP party, Liberal Party are in collusion with the CPP-NPA. Now, Trillanes has made no secret that he wants to oust President Duterte and I think his language speaks for itself,” Roque said.
Roque also reiterated that ouster plots will fail since the President remains supported by both the military and Filipinos.
“The President remains supported by the people – 8 out of 10 po ang suporta sa (support the) war on drugs. We don’t recognize any viable threat against the administration dahil solid nga po ang suporta ng taumbayan kay Presidente (because people have solid support for the President),” Roque said. ( Azer Parrocha/PNA)
