Military, police dismiss Duterte’s remarks

July 3, 2019

The military and police dismiss the remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte asking government forces not to stage a coup during his term.

Brig. Gen Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman, said Duterte made "a random remark".

"That was a random remark on the part of the President and Commander-in-Chief, insofar as the AFP is concerned," Arevalo said.

"As early as the first Joint AFP-PNP Command Conference that he presided upon his assumption of office and in several other instances after that, he has conveyed that same message to the security forces," he said.

"He says, in essence, forget about mounting a military take-over that would lead to violence, death, and destruction. If anyone among the military (or the police) thinks he or she can better run the country’s just tell him (The President) and he will step down," he added, referring to a previous statement of Duterte.

Police General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP),  assured the public they are not planning any coup.

"The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) are not planning anything," Albayalde said in an ambush interview in Subic 

"I can assure you that. I don't think there is a plan," he added.

Albayalde said he does not know where Duterte's statement is coming from as he has "unlimited sources of information".

"We don't know where he got (the information). I can assure the president. I can assure the public that there is no such plan," he said

Arevalo said the military have learned their lesson from the past.

"We have learned our lessons from the past and we shall live with it," he added. Robina Asido, Ella Dionisio/DMS