Coup vs. Marcos?

'Military downplays report of plot to unseat Marcos'

ZAMBONGA CITY – The Philippines’ military command in Mindanao has mounted a counterintelligence operation to monitor troops in the South after reports of alleged destabilization plan against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, surfaced anew.

General Romeo Brawner, Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who presided over the change of command ceremony here on Friday, made the disclosure and said there is a plot by former military officers to topple Marcos.

He installed Lieutenant General William Gonzales as the new chief of the Western Mindanao Command replacing Major General Steve Crespillo, who was designated as the new AFP Inspector General. 

Brawner said he spoke to some of those involved in the plot not to involve active soldiers. He warned troops to stay apolitical and not to join the destabilization plot.

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

“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 by phone on Saturday.

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.

Just early this year, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., 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 has previously denied the destabilization plot, saying “everything is normal” within the military.

It was unclear what 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.

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.

A former AFP Chief-of-Staff, who also served in Mindanao, said he has not heard of any coup plot against Marcos. “Not heard about any such info. Weak na ata antenna ko. I haven't heard such info Al. Chat groups online are quite active but nothing beyond healthy discussions,” he told The Mindanao Examiner. (Mindanao Examiner)