Ignore coup rumors, Palma says

MANILA—The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines yesterday warned Filipinos not to be swayed by rumors of a plot to oust President Aquino, saying that it won’t do the country any good.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said such a rumor should be ignored as it would only  “complicate matters”  and cause fear among the people.

“I just hope that people won’t be susceptible into believing that such report is true and if there really is such a plan. This doesn’t show love at all for the country … it’s not the way to hope for change,” Palma told reporters.

Palma was in the capital to preside over the quarterly Permanent Council meeting of the CBCP.

“I don’t know where it came from and what purpose it serves,” he said.

Last Monday, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV divulged that the ouster plot against Mr. Aquino was real and that some retired military officers were behind it.

The senator said those behind the plot were spreading the rumor that the President offered communist leader Jose Ma. Sison a Cabinet post.

Trillanes made the disclosure after Mr. Aquino said last week that there were people who wanted him out.

In 2003, Trillanes led the so-called Magdalo group of junior military officers in the Oakwood mutiny, a short-lived coup against then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.    /Inquirer