PNP on Trillanes’ claim: No plot to oust Marcos

Antonio Trillanes IV INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police said on Tuesday that it had not confirmed the existence of a plot to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that retired and active high-ranking police officers were recruiting other lawmen to join them in removing the chief executive from office.

“We have not monitored any active police officer that is involved in the alleged destabilization plot. And we have not monitored any destabilization plot for that matter,” Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the PNP, said at a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

According to Fajardo, she already talked to PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil and police intelligence units. All said they have also not monitored any plan to oust Marcos.

“[The] PNP will remain apolitical, and we will always uphold our Constitution,” Fajardo said.

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

Morale high

According to her, the morale of police officers was high under the new leadership of Marbil, which was why there was no reason for any of them to join a plan to remove Marcos.

But at the same time, Fajardo warned that police officers who join any destabilization plot could face treason charges.

She also told Trillanes to spare the PNP from such issues, saying the police force was focused on fulfilling its mandate to Filipinos.

No loyalty check

Marbil has been visiting police camps in the country since his appointment in April but he denied that this was part of a loyalty check.

“I have to talk to them so that they can see what the PNP is doing,” he told reporters during a visit at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig on Tuesday.

“No, there is no loyalty check. All the police here, we are very loyal to the Constitution,” he added.

In April, Trillanes also said that about 50 former and incumbent police officials had been asked by the International Criminal Court (ICC) about their role in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

The former senator said the policemen were being given a chance to air their side, and if they failed to clear themselves, they could become suspects.

Fajardo, however, reiterated that the PNP does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.

Duterte is being investigated by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the thousands of deaths that occurred during his campaign against illegal drugs.