Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. JOAN BONDOC/Philippine Daily Inquirer
The likely connivance of some church leaders with the communist rebels is “not fake news,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Wednesday.
Roque, however, refused to name those Church leaders even as Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo has dared the Palace official to reveal their identities.
READ: CBCP exec dares Roque: Identify prelates he believes conniving with NPA
“Hindi po fake news iyan; iyan po ay kasaysayan,” he said in a radio dzRH interview.
The Palace official said penetrating different institutions has been the strategy of revolutionary group ever since.
“Matuto naman po tayo sa kasaysayan, huwag magbulag-bulagan at huwag nating… kunwaring hindi alam kung paano gumalaw ang CPP-NPA,” he said.
“Papasukin at papasukin po ang mga iba’t ibang institusyon at kinakailangan bantayan ang ating mga hanay,” he added.
Roque claimed that it is possible for churchmen, who oppose the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, to conspire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to oust the Chief Executive.
“Hindi imposible na iyong ilang mga taong simbahan na sa mula’t-mula ay ayaw kay Presidente Duterte at mayroong ibang nakitang—mayroon silang ibang gustong makita maging Presidente at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin matanggap po ang pagiging Presidente ni Pangulong Duterte,” he said.
“At ilan po sa kanila ay pupuwedeng – iyon nga po ‘no – na makipagsabwatan diyan sa CPP-NPA sa kanilang sinasabi na ninanais na patalsikin, pabagsakin ang administrasyon ni Presidente Duterte,” he added.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) had earlier denied that the Church was involved in any destabilization plot against the President.
READ: No destabilization plot, say bishops
“There is no truth to that, definitely not true,” said Imus Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, chair of the public affairs committee of the CBCP. With a report from Carol Balita, INQUIRER.net trainee