MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte’s challenge to military personnel to oust him shows his complete trust and confidence to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Thursday.
“Ang tingin ko sa kanya (What I think of him is that) he’s very comfortable naman with the support of the military and the police. Ako din ganun din (I feel the same way). I think it’s a dare. Para bang kayong mga nag-iisip dyan, para bang (It’s like saying ‘hey all of you who are thinking, it is like), but he’s very comfortable that he has the support of the military and the police. dine-dare lang niya siguro (I think he is just daring them),” Lorenzana said in an interview with reporters.
Lorenzana said the Chief Executive’s challenge to the military was brought about by reports or rumors that some people are actively recruiting active duty personnel for their alleged plots.
He added that they are still confirming these rumors.
But the defense chief added that Duterte has nothing to worry about about as the security forces are solidly behind the President.
During Tuesday’s televised one-on-one interview with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Duterte said Trillanes’ Magdalo group, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison, and other opposition groups are in a “loose conspiracy” to overthrow his government.
“They have combined and we have the evidence and we have the conversation provided by a foreign country sympathetic to us,” Duterte said.
The President then dared soldiers to join Trillanes if they think that the senator, a former Navy officer known for his failed coup attempts against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, can do better in running the country.
“I urge you to go to Trillanes. If you want another President, fine,” Duterte said. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
