By Filane Mikee Cervantes | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said he has not received any reports of a destabilization plot involving active police officials against his administration.
In a media interview following the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in General Santos City, Marcos dismissed the supposed ouster move against him, claiming that Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel are not engaged in politicking.
Marcos, however, did not rule out the possibility that retired officials could be hatching a destabilization plot.
“I don’t see — wala kaming report na in the ranks. Iyong mga retired baka mayroon, mayroong mga gumagalaw, sumasama sa mga destab na ginagawa. Pero sa ating mga kapulisan at siyempre lalo na sa officer corps, wala naman tayong nakikitang ganun na namumulitika ang mga police,” he said.
Marcos called on the police and military to stay committed to their sworn duty and set aside politics.
“Kahit hindi mo ako binoto okay lang sa akin basta’t maging professional ka. Gawin mo ‘yung trabaho mo nang tama. Iyon lang naman ang hinihiling ko sa lahat ng police, sa lahat ng Armed Forces,” he added.
President Marcos also expressed continued trust and confidence in the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, stressing that he does not need to conduct a loyalty check among their ranks.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier claimed that high-ranking police officials were recruiting personnel to join the ouster plot.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said this kind of scheme, no matter how small, would not escape the validation efforts of their intelligence units.
“We have not monitored any police officer who is involved in this so-called destabilization plot and we have not monitored any destabilization plot for that matter,” Fajardo said.
