By ARGYLL B. GEDUCOS
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed President Duterte’s claims that armed groups are planning to oust the country’s chief executive.
AFP spokesperson Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla, during the Mindanao Hour/Bangon Marawi press briefing, however, said he is unsure whether the Liberal Party (LP) is involved in such moves.
“’Yung pagpa-plano, meron po kaming nakikita na iba. At hindi lang naman po ‘yung oposisyon ang ano dito. Kaya ang binabantayan po talaga ng Armed Forces ay ‘yung mga armadong grupo,” he said.
“Most of them are Reds and the armed elements in Mindanao. There may be but I am not privy to this information yet,” he added.
According to Padilla, the AFP is only monitoring the country’s security landscape and not the side of politics.
“Ang NPA (New People’s Army) po ay patuloy naming mino-monitor,” he said.
“The objective of the NPA is actually to take hold of the whole Philippines and government. So that is why, always, they are coming from a very hard bargaining position,” he added.
Padilla, meanwhile, assured the public that plans to destabilize the government will not come from the AFP due to the continuous support given by President Duterte.
This after the President announced on Thursday the increase in the salary of soldiers.
Padilla, during the same press briefing, said that the AFP is grateful for all the support Duterte has been giving them.
“Kung ito’y ili-link natin sa mga usapang destabilisasyon, ‘yung usapan na ‘yan na naririnig natin, hindi ho manggagaling sa hanay ng Armed Forces ‘yan,” Padilla assured.
“We have a Commander-in-Chief who has malasakit (care) for every soldier and is doing his end of the bargain of taking care of every uniformed men who are doing their job,” he added.
“Mapagkakatiwalaan niyo po ang inyong Armed Forces na gagawin natin ang nararapat lamang. At ito ‘yung nakalagay na mandato na dapat naming gampanan sa ating Constitution,” he continued.
