President Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is “seriously” looking into reports of coup plots to topple President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The news about this seeming disturbances within the military are unknown to us. These are things that we take seriously so we will look into it,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told reporters on Monday.
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He admitted that they did not know the source of the information.
“Hindi namin alam kung ano ang origin nito pero (We don’t know its origin but) there have been some pronouncements lately but that’s the only thing I can say for now, we are seriously looking into it,” Padilla said.
The spokesperson said that the soldiers’ morale remains high and that there are no divisions among its ranks.
“Matapos po na bigyan ng prioridad ang ating commander-in-chief ang pagpunta sa lahat ng military installation upang makibahagi at makipag ugnayan sa lahat ng kasundaluhan, maayos po ang pagtanggap ng lahat ng ating mga sundalo, mga marino, mga airman at saka mga sailors sa ating commander-in-chief,” Padilla said.
(After the commander-in-chief prioritized visiting all the military installations to speak with the soldiers, all our soldiers, Marine members, airmen and sailors welcome him.)
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco said over the weekend that groups unsatisfied with the President are likely to stage a coup. RAM/rga
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