A SECURITY expert sees in the planned indignation rallies in the next few days by anti-Marcos forces, including the “yellows” as part of a larger scenario: The destabilization of the incumbent administration.
The expert, who spoke on condition he would not be identified, said authorities were cautiously conducting an in-depth assessment of events preceding the interment on November 18 of the late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani.
The burial at high noon has sparked disgust and anger from the ranks of the left and alleged Martial Law victims, a reference to those arrested from 1972 to 1981 when Martial Law was imposed by Marcos.
“Let us just monitor the events,” said the expert, referring to today’s “Black Friday” protest at the Luneta Grandstand and other urban areas in the country.
The Supreme Court, in a 9-5-1 ruling, allowed Marcos’ burial at the LNMB.
Critics of Marcos and Duterte vowed to stage lightning protests to force the Duterte administration to reverse its decision and exhume Marcos’ remains at the LNMB—a scenario security observers viewed as tantamount to a security threat.
“There is such [a destabilization] plot, but today’s rally could be considered as [having] no bearing to the prevailing peace and order situation,” the source explained.
He viewed the “Black Friday” protest by anti-Marcos forces as a move to “ventilate their dismay” arising from the burial of the late strongman at LNMB.
Earlier, Duterte, anticipating the anti-Marcos outrage in the event Marcos bones were laid at the LNMB, even permitted a month-long protest provided they should observe the rule of law.
Thousands of protesters are scheduled to converge in several historical sites to demonstrate their opposition to the Marcos burial with thousands of policemen backed by military personnel deployed to the rally to preserve law and order.
The source said they were not discounting the possibility of foreign agitators in the rally that Marcos critics would want to pro-long to gain public sympathy, a parallel move for a larger scenario.
“Let us see if there would be foreign agitators,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya said they were ready to support the Philippine National Police in maintaining peace and order in today’s protest.
“Our Joint Task Force National Capital Region is always ready, only for support role,” said Visaya.
