DND: Stop peddling coup plot rumors

MANILA, Philippines - The Defense department on Thursday urged those who are peddling rumors about destabilization plots to stop and focus on “positive things” happening in the country.

Defense department spokesman Peter Galvez said talks about supposed coup plots could harm the economy and do not help in promoting development.

“Whoever is spreading such kind of rumors should stop. There are no complaints among the soldiers and we can see what the President is doing,” Galvez told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“They should not talk like that. Maybe it would be better if we concentrate on the positive things that are happening in our nation,” he added.

Galvez said the Aquino administration is providing soldiers the equipment they need to perform their mission.

Earlier, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV revealed that some retired generals identified with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are hatching a plot against the Aquino administration.

He claimed that former generals are meeting with active military officers to convince them to destabilize the government.

Trillanes’ allies in Magdalo, a group of rebel soldiers who staged a failed uprising against the Arroyo administration, confirmed that some retired generals are planning to destabilize the government but until now, no names have been revealed.

Loyalty check?

Galvez accompanied Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in his visit to Camp Aquino in Tarlac on Thursday, a trip that was supposed to assess the soldiers’ readiness to respond to disasters.

There were speculations that the visit was part of a “loyalty check” but Galvez claimed it had nothing to do with the alleged coup plots.

“We just reminded our troops to prepare especially now that we have entered the typhoon season,” Galvez said in Filipino.

“We are checking their readiness and determining the equipment they need. Hopefully we can try to get all these equipment so they can strengthen their disaster relief operations,” he added.

Gazmin said he has not detected any plan to destabilize the government.

“I have been going around even before the (reports about) coup came out. I am checking the readiness of AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) as first responders during disasters and calamities,” the defense chief said. 

‘Retired generals discussing issues’

A source who requested anonymity confirmed that two groups of retired generals had met to discuss important issues.

“But they did not talk about coup. It was more of people expressing their views on DAP (disbursement acceleration program) and PDAF (priority development assistance fund),” the source said.

The source  said the generals were associated with previous administrations.

“They just talked and there is nothing wrong with that,” the source added.

Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Maj. Gen. Eduardo Ano said they have not monitored any plans to unseat the administration.

He said discussions about current issues are just “part of the democratic space.”

“As long as they’re not recruiting from the AFP or instigating for soldiers to take up arms against the government, then there’s no problem,” Ano said.