Marcos: No reports of ouster plot among active PNP, AFP officials

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government has not received any reports of destabilization plots against him among active police and military officials, adding that discontent may be within the retired personnel.

In an ambush interview on Friday in General Santos City, Marcos said they have not monitored any movement among current Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials as personnel from both organizations are not engaged in politicking.

“I don’t see — wala kaming report na in the ranks. Iyong mga retired baka mayroon, mayroong mga gumagalaw, sumasama sa mga destab na ginagawa,” Marcos told reporters.

(We don’t have a report within the ranks. Retired individuals might be the ones moving or joining destabilization efforts.)

“Pero sa ating mga kapulisan at siyempre lalo na sa officer corps, wala naman tayong nakikitang ganun na namumulitika ang mga police,” he added.

(But among our police, especially in the officer corps, we don’t see any politicking within the force.)

Marcos also said he does not see why a loyalty check would be required of officials because everybody would say they are loyal when asked.

He also assured officials that it would not matter if they voted for him in the 2022 national elections as long as both the PNP and the AFP stay professional.

“So, ang loyalty check, hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yung loyalty check katotohanan. Anong sasabihin mo doon sa tao? Sasabihin, ‘loyal ka ba sa akin?’ Siyempre, oo ang sagot noon ‘di ba kahit na hindi siya loyal sa’yo. Pero titingnan natin mga record,” he said.

(So, the loyalty check, I don’t know what the real loyalty check is. What would you tell the person? You’d say, ‘Are you loyal to me?’ Of course, the answer would be ‘yes,’ even if they’re not loyal to you. But let’s look at their records.)

“Ang ano ko naman, kahit hindi mo ako binoto, okay lang sa akin basta’t maging professional ka, gawin mo ‘yung trabaho mo nang tama. Iyon lang naman ang hinihiling ko sa lahat ng police, sa lahat ng armed forces,” he added.

(What matters to me is that even if you didn’t vote for me, it’s okay as long as you’re professional, you do your job right. That’s all I’m asking for from all police, from all armed forces.)

Marcos gave these statements after being asked about former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s claims that there may be an ouster plot being hatched by active senior PNP personnel and retired AFP officials — supposedly meant to install Vice President Sara Duterte as president.

READ: Trillanes: Active senior PNP officials recruiting for Marcos ouster 

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives initially asked Trillanes to keep the AFP and PNP away from such talks, but some are now questioning whether the former senator’s claims are true.

Trillanes said the ouster plot may be because there is a sense of urgency on the side of former president Rodrigo Duterte since the International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue a warrant against those involved in the drug war.  However, the PNP leadership has appealed to Trillanes to spare the organization from such issues.

READ: Trillanes told to spare PNP from rumors of ouster plot vs Marcos

Duterte, who implemented the war against illegal drugs when he was in office from 2016 to 2022, is facing complaints for allegedly committing the crime against humanity of mass murder.

Last April 24, Trillanes claimed that the ICC had contacted 50 past and present PNP officials to discuss the complaints against Duterte.