Palace says AFP, PNP investigating issue
Any foreign-funded attempt to destabilize the Marcos administration, if proven true, would be tantamount to treason against the Philippines, Malacañang on Thursday said.
Palace Press Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are checking on the possibility that foreign actors may have a hand in the recent rally conducted at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.
“If this is proven true, and if in their investigation they see that this rally was indeed foreign-funded, then we can say that this is treason against the people,” Castro said.
She said it would be unacceptable for any foreign country to interfere in domestic affairs.
“I hope these kinds of activities don’t get any worse if they are funded by other countries,” the Palace official said.
The military earlier said it was checking what it described as “unusual” logistical and financial support behind the rally organized by the United People’s Initiative (UPI), saying it appeared to be well-funded, possibly even with foreign backing.
“We have noted that the support system was unusual when it comes to administrative requirements or administrative support given to the participants of the rally,” acting AFP spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said.
“Without going to specific names or brands, you will be able to see based on the catering or the food provided. This will give us an indication of the support system or the funding of the activity,” he said. “We are checking all possible leads, especially when it comes to funding—whether these were done by domestic or possibly even foreign groups.”
But in a Facebook post, UPI convenor retired Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz rejected the military’s claims, saying the organizers could barely feed their own participants.
“What foreign funding? We could not even feed everyone attending our rally,” Poquiz said.
As this developed, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. reiterated that the military must not intervene in political disputes, warning that doing so would only weaken the republic.
“What soldiers should not and could not do is participate in political action or intervene using their arms. That should not happen and we have learned from past experiences,” Teodoro said.
He noted that some politicians are even attempting to influence soldiers in a bid to destabilize the administration, but did not offer names.
Still, Teodoro warned that any attempt to seize power outside of legal or electoral processes would further damage the national structure.
