President Rodrigo Duterte says the “Red October” plot will not succeed without the help of the military, claiming some soldiers were in cahoots with the opposition in working for his ouster.
“You know, I will only say one thing about this plot: Nothing will succeed without the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Duterte said in Jolo, Sulu, on Monday.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon described as “a discredited fantasy tale taken from a Tom Clancy thriller” the so-called “Red October” plot to oust Duterte.
“This is an old familiar tune and it sounds like a broken record,” Drilon said.
Senator Francis Pangilinan suggested that the President fire those giving him false and manufactured intelligence reports on the alleged destabilization efforts.
“Whoever is giving the President false and manufactured intelligence reports must be fired,” Pangilinan said in a statement. Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis Escudero doubted that the reported destabilization plot would pose a serious threat to the President.
“While it may be frustrating on his part considering how he treats the AFP upon his assumption as president, I think he is politically mature and experienced enough to understand that he cannot have absolute support of all the soldiers and officers of the AFP,” Lacson said in a text message.
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Wednesday the so-called “Red October” conspiracy to topple Duterte was real.
“If the President believes that there is a threat, he is working from good information. So we should believe whatever [he is saying],” Arroyo told reporters.
Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said the “Red October ouster plot” “is no less than a fictional scenario being stirred by Duterte and his cabal of militarists to preempt and suppress the people’s growing discontent over soaring prices, state-sponsored rights violations and lingering corruption in the bureaucracy.”
Duterte said the country’s military and police forces could easily talk with him if they deemed he was unfit to continue being President.
But he said he was hurt to find out that some soldiers were in cahoots with the opposition in a plot to oust him.
“It was painful because those from the Liberal Party, and even some people in the military, are communicating with the rebel soldiers,” Duterte said.
“I can’t understand where their loyalty lies,” the President said as he visited the wounded soldiers at the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital.
“That’s my resentment toward those soldiers. I won’t mind if they get mad at me. That’s nothing. But to be in cahoots with the enemy?
“But the problem is the nation… If you are true to your country, do not bed with the enemy.”
In his speech in Calamba City on Wednesday, Duterte urged the police not to nurture personal loyalty to him amid the supposed ouster plot next month.
“Do not nurture personal loyalty to me. I don’t need it. I was elected by the people. You have your mandate. So if you think I do not deserve to be there, just tell me, I’d be happy to oblige. I’m tired after all,” Duterte said.
He also called on the military people desiring his ouster not to stage coup attempts just to overthrow him. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz