Destabilization rumors continue

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jan 13, 2024): Destabilization rumors continue

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Rumors of a destabilization plot to unseat President Ferdinand Marcos continue despite repeated warnings from the police and military that it will not allow any groups to grab power from the democratic government.

These reports were further aggravated after National Police Chief General Benjamin Acorda filed charges against a former army general Johnny Macanas, now a vlogger, for claiming that Acorda and Armed Forces’ chief General Romero Brawner Jr supposedly withdrew their support for Marcos.

Brawner admitted in November that there is a plot by former military officers to topple Marcos. He said he spoke to some of those behind the plot not to involve active soldiers. He warned troops to stay apolitical and not to join the destabilization plot

Macanas served as a spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City in southern Philippines and was also involved in the 1989 coup against the Aquino government. He now runs the YouTube channel called “The General’s Opinion.”

Acorda, referring to the Macanas’ vlog, said: “It hurts me that there are people na gusto lang maging sikat yung kanilang vlog ay gagawa ng mga disinformation. No less than my face, the face of the Chief of Staff, posted and viral saying the AFP and the PNP withdrawing support or asking for the resignation of the president is unforgivable.”

Macanas, in one of his vloggs, quoted another vlogger “Maharlika” that Marcos was included in the so-called 2017 “Narco List of then President Rodrigo Duterte.” “Si Mr. BBM kasama sa Narco List noong 2017,” he said.

He also said that there is a purported video in the hands of Maharkila showing Marcos allegedly using illegal drugs.

Duterte

In November 2021 at the height of the presidential campaign, Duterte, who frequently throws jabs at Marcos, asked how a presidential bet manages to elude arrest for alleged cocaine use.

Marcos and other presidential candidates, submitted themselves to a drug test. Marcos was tested negative for cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana use and submitted the results to the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police.

“I really don’t feel that I am the one being alluded to. In spite of that, I believe it is my inherent duty as an aspiring public official to assure the Filipinos that I am against illegal drugs,” Marcos said then.

Protect people, state

In November last year, the commanders of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City and Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City said they stand united with Brawner in preventing any destabilization plot against the Marcos administration.

Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, also reminded troops “to remain professional and dedicated to their constitutional mandates and stern duty of protecting the people and the state.”

Almerol’s statement came a day after the Western Mindanao Command said it had no reports of a destabilization plot in the South.

“We have not monitored any persuasion moves within our ranks or any unauthorized movement in our joint operational area. Our significant administrative and operational gains have consistently been progressive. We will not engage in any other activities not congruent to what we have sworn to do,” Almerol said.

Major Andrew Linao, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said Brawner may have been misquoted by the press, saying this destabilization plot had been reported since 2022.

“Na-misquote lang siya dito kasi wala naman report sa amin on the ground as far as Western Mindanao Command is concerned. Last year pa yan balita and si CS (Chief of Staff) is just reminding troops,” he told The Mindanao Examiner.

Linao said they have, nonetheless, mounted a counterintelligence operation to monitor security forces in Mindanao. “Anyway, meron naman tayong CI (counterintelligence) that is monitoring our troops, pero so far wala naman threats or destabilization sa AOR (area of responsibility) natin,” he said.

The Western Mindanao Command and the Eastern Mindanao Command are the largest military headquarters in the South which have operational control over the air force and the naval forces and tens of thousands of soldiers.

Last year, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., then the chief of the Philippine National Police, also ordered an investigation after receiving reports of the plot in the military to remove Marcos from power. This also triggered an alert among police forces in the country.

Philippine military spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar previously denied the destabilization plot, saying “everything is normal” within the military.

Who is behind it?

It was unclear what triggered or pushed former military officers and their group to plot the downfall of Marcos, a former Scout Ranger, and son of Dictator and namesake Ferdinand Marcos who was ousted in a military-backed popular power people revolution in 1986.

However, there were reports that Duterte had been talking to retired military generals, but he denied involvement in any destabilization plots against Marcos.

The destabilization reports first floated after Marcos cut short the term of the AFP Chief-of-Staff General Bartolome Bacarro, a medal of valor awardee, whom he appointed last year to replace General Andres Centino. Bacarro served only five months and was replaced by retiring Centino in August this year. (Mindanao Examiner)

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