Plot to topple Marcos revealed: Troops told to protect people and state

DAVAO CITY  - The military’s Eastern Mindanao Command said it stands united with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. in preventing any destabilization plot against the Marcos administration.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr poses with troops in this photo posted on his Facebook page captioned: "Standing tall alongside the real Filipinos Of The Year."

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. 

Brawner was in Zamboanga City on Nov. 3 and presided over the change of command ceremony here when he made the disclosure 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

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.

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.

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 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)