DILG chief says police’s morale is high, won’t join ‘Red October’

DILG Sec. Eduardo Año. INQUIRER.net file photo

Amid reports of recruitment among police personnel to join the plan to destabilize the government, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said on Friday that he is confident the Philippine National Police (PNP) remains loyal to the Constitution.

“As DILG chief, I categorically state that the loyalty of the PNP and all the uniformed members of our attached agencies are to the Constitution and the rule of law and we will not be a party to any illegal move to topple down the Duterte administration,” Año said in a statement.

“Mataas ang morale ng kapulisan at sila ay nakatutok sa pagsugpo ng droga at kriminalidad.  Wala silang oras para sa mga destabilization na yan,” he said, citing the support that the DILG agencies, especially PNP, have been receiving from President Rodrigo Duterte.

(The police force has a high morale and our personnel are focused on the fight against illegal drugs and criminality. They have no time for that destabilization.)

On Wednesday, Año revealed there were reports that there were initial recruitment for the “Red October” plot — a plan to overthrow the government to be executed in October, which Duterte attributes to the Liberal Party, the Magdalo group, and communist rebels.

“We received information on initial recruitment for the Red October plot early this month. Thus, I am still reminding all PNP personnel to stay non-partisan and be loyal to the Constitution and duly constituted authorities,” Año said.

Previously, PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde and former PNP chief and now Bureau of Corrections Director General Ronald dela Rosa said on separate occasions that they doubt if there are officers who would help or join the ouster plots.

Dela Rosa, for his part, said he sees no reason for police to turn against Duterte, who has implemented the increase in their salaries.  He also added that even the “bad eggs” in the police force or those so-called “ninja cops” would not join such movements.

READ: PNP chief says no need for loyalty check among police

Parties being tagged of supposedly planning the Red October have denied involvement, saying that it is just a figment of Duterte’s imagination.  Even the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (NPA), which has been vocal of its criticisms of the current administration, has shut down the allegation.

READ: Bato agrees: It’s hard to recruit dissidents from police

However, Año, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said that he does not understand why communist groups are still disowning ouster plots when it has been at their core to overthrow governments.

“I don’t understand why the CPP is denying Oplan Red October when they have been trying to topple every administration since 1968,” Año asked. /jpv