MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it does not see the “Red October” plot against the Duterte administration as a security threat.
“Hindi siya nakikita natin na (We don’t see it as a) threat as of this time, but it can be a concern, as far as the PNP is concerned. We don’t know with other intelligence community. But as far as the PNP, kung ang tatanungin mo ay sa (if you will ask about) recruitment on our side, sa (for this) October movement na ito ay wala sa amin (we don’t have that). We don’t know with other agencies,” Albayalde told reporters when asked on the comment during the press briefing on Monday.
Albayalde, however, defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks on rumors of an ouster plot during a televised tête-à-tête with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.
“I think there’s a basis for the statement of the President. Remember the President has unlimited access, hindi lang yung (not just the) PNP. There’s a reason for this at mayroong basehan yan (and there’s a basis for that). Hindi basta basta pwedeng sabihin ng Pangulo yan kung walang basehan (The President won’t say that without having any basis). Even the intel community, there’s a basis for that,” he noted.
Reacting reports of protest actions set on Oct. 17, Albayalde assured that measures are in place to secure these activities.
“Unang-una yung mga kilos protesta parang naging parte na ng buhay natin yan (First of all, mass actions are a part of our lives), it’s a way of life already by some sectors of our society. Although in any protest, kailangan natin mag-provide ng (we need to provide) security not only for those who are conducting the rally but also doon sa mga hindi (for those who are not joining it), para may (to ensure) peace and order doon sa lugar (in these places),” he said.
The PNP chief, meanwhile, advised people from the labor sector not to be swayed by calls of left-learning groups to join mass actions.
“What we know, doon sa (in the) grassroots kasi, parang ini-instigate nila the labor sector na mag-rally kaya yung sa mga factories madalas nagra-rally. Tapos nai-infiltrate yan ng mga makakaliwa kaya yung mga ating nagtatrabaho sa mga factories. Huwag tayo maniwala dahil tayo din ang mawawalan ng trabaho, yun ang gusto ng ibang sector ng ating lipunan, i-instigate mga manggagawa natin sa factories na mag-strike (They are instigating those in the labor sector, especially those working in factories to join rallies. Let’s not believe that because it is us who will lose jobs. That’s what other sectors of society want: to instigate workers in factories to join strikes),” Albayalde said.
“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 (What they think is that if production is paralyzed and an economic crisis happens, our President is 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)
