Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri (Senate PRIB file photo)
MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other agencies involved to “play down” the allegations of destabilization plot against the government if there’s no truth to such claims.
Zubiri made the remark during the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and attached agencies.
“If there’s no truth to it and there’s no seriousness on this issue on the destabilization plot, if it’s just a mere haka-haka (hearsay), I would like to remind these agencies to just play it down,” said Zubiri.
Zubiri said that the government is currently promoting the Philippines as an investment hub, and that entertaining such allegations could scare potential investors.
“The President will be leaving again for the United States, kung walang katotohanan ito [ay] mas magandang hindi na pag-usapan kasi pipickupin ‘yan ng media [at] magvi-viral din ‘yan sa social media. It will scare potential investors,” said Zubiri.
(The President will be leaving again for the United States, if there is no truth [it is] better not to talk about it because the media will pick it up and it may go viral on social media. It will scare potential investors.)
“So tama lang [na] naconfirm ni Senator dela Rosa that there’s no such thing,” he added.
(So it’s only right [that] Senator dela Rosa confirmed that there’s no such thing.)
Prior to Zubiri’s statement, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa urged the PNP to categorically state whether or not they have monitored a destabilization plot against the government being spearheaded by retired generals.
“I am also a retired general, baka mamaya sabihin nilang kasama ako dyan sa plot. Kaya maniguro tayo at siguruhin natin kung makakapagsabi sila, if indeed, may namonitor sila na ganitong planong pag aaklas against the government,” said dela Rosa, a former PNP chief.
(I am also a retired general, maybe later they will say that I was included in the plot. So let’s make sure and let’s make sure if they can say, if indeed, they have monitored something like this plan to strike against the government.)
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said they “have not monitored any plot within the police” and there’s “no reason to rise up against the government.”