‘Arroyos could be behind destabilization plot vs. Aquino gov’t,’—Lacson, Trillanes

MANILA, Philippines—Any destabilization plot against the Aquino government could be very well traced to the Arroyos who have the “motive, means and opportunity” to commit such act , two senators said on Wednesday.

“Only those who are at the receiving end of the vigorous anti-corruption campaign waged by the Aquino administration could be responsible for agitating or at least spreading the rumors about a destabilization plot against him,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said in a text message.

“Nevertheless, whatever frustrations and grief that the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has over the massacre of their soldiers are now being addressed by the all-out justice directive of the President which by any definition is an all-out offensive against the “rogue” MILF members as well as their coddlers,” he said.

Asked if he had information that the Arroyos could be behind any destabilization plot, Lacson said, “None. But as a former police investigator, I believe that they could very well be behind it because they have the motive, means and opportunity to commit that act.”

“Whether they stand a chance to succeed is another matter altogether,” he pointed out.

Lacson said the Arroyos have the motive “because they can almost smell the filth of their detention facility,” referring to the cases filed against them, the means because of the money they had allegedly stole while former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in power, and “opportunity” by taking advantage of the grief and frustration of the AFP over the loss of their soldiers in the recent clashes in Mindanao.

Like Lacson, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV also believes that Arroyo and her allies could be behind any destabilization plot against the present leadership.

“I also believe that GMA’s (Arroyo’s initial) men are really moving to destabilize the Aquino administration,” Trillanes said in a separate text message.

Both Lacson and Trillanes are known staunch critics of the Arroyos.