Palace hits Duterte ‘ selfish’ call for AFP action

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday assailed former president Rodrigo Duterte over what it branded as a “selfish” and “brazen” call to oust President Marcos, as it vowed to counter unlawful challenges and to continue performing its mandate according to the rule of law.

The word war raging between the Marcos administration and the Dutertes reached a new peak last Saturday when Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, told a late-night press briefing that she had asked someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez if an alleged assassination plot against her succeeds.

Law enforcement agencies have vowed to dig deeper into the kill plot and to study what cases may be filed against the Vice President, who used to be a close ally of Marcos but has since severed ties with his administration over policy and personal differences.

The elder Duterte responded by hurling a myriad of tirades at the Marcos administration, including his claim that the President is a drug addict, and urging the military to “correct” what he described as a “fractured government.”

In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said that any effort to seize power through forceful means like assassination and revolt is unacceptable.

He accused Duterte of going to “great and evil lengths” to unseat the President and to install Sara to power.

“No motive is more selfish than calling for a sitting president to be overthrown so that your daughter can take over,” Bersamin said.

“And he will go to great and evil lengths, such as insulting our professional armed forces by asking them to betray their oath, for his plan to succeed,” he added.

Bersamin said Duterte should respect, not disobey, the Constitution and should “desist from being as irresponsible as he has become.”

“The call of former president Duterte for the armed forces to launch a coup against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was shocking and brazen,” the executive secretary said.

“Violent means to grab power to place someone in the presidency are not acceptable... Wait for the right time, follow the proper process,” Bersamin, a former chief justice, said in Filipino.

The Marcos administration, the executive secretary said, would not shirk from its sworn duty to govern and manage the affairs of the Filipino nation “according to the Constitution and the rule of law.”

“It will defend its legacy before the Filipino people only by lawful means. The state will act resolutely to go against all unlawful attempts and challenges,” Bersamin said.

‘No AFP loyalty check’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) called on the country’s leaders yesterday to spare the military from political issues and political noise.

“What we are emphasizing here is that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is a non-partisan organization. As our chief of staff has already stated, our Armed Forces is united and professional,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla declared in response to former president Duterte’s statements on Monday night.

Padilla said there is also no need for a loyalty check within the ranks of the AFP, considering that “our chief of staff has already stated that he trusts that each soldier will perform its mandate accordingly and remain professional.”

“Our loyalty is to the flag and to the Constitution and we adhere to the chain of command,” she said, clarifying that it also does not want to get involved in or comment about Vice President Duterte’s alleged threats to President Marcos, the First Lady and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“At this point, we do not want to act on a lot of speculative statements. For the side of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we remain to continue with our mission. The Presidential Security Command is under the Armed Forces of the Philippines. And part of its mandate is to protect the President and other dignitaries from harm and embarrassment. And we will do that to the letter,” she said.

Asked about the names of military personnel being mentioned in the ongoing congressional hearings, Padilla said these are active officers and if summoned to testify before the legislative inquiries, the military will cooperate.

Ready for probe

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is prepared to act on the investigation of Vice President Duterte’s alleged threat against President Marcos, but it will take direction from the Presidential Security Command (PSC), CIDG head Nicolas Torre III said on Monday.

In an interview over ANC, Torre said the PSC, as the agency primarily responsible for the President’s safety, would provide instructions to the PNP if needed.

“We will take our cue from the PSC, their specific orders and requests. As of the moment, we are conducting our motu proprio investigation to be ready when those orders come,” Torre said.

Torre confirmed that no formal directives have been received from Malacañang or the PSC regarding the matter. However, PNP chief Rommel Francisco Marbil has instructed an investigation.

“For CIDG, this will we a criminal investigation,” Torre said, adding that if the facts of the case require an interview with the Vice President, they will do it through proper channels.

While acknowledging the Vice President’s right to refuse any subpoena or summons, Torre stressed that the CIDG could proceed without her testimony.

“We can build the case based on other circumstances and evidence and submit it to the proper forum,” he said.

PCG on full alert

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has increased the number of its floating assets around the “Malacañang restricted area” as it goes on “full alert” after Duterte disclosed plans to have President Marcos and the First Lady assassinated.

Lt. Commander Michael John Encina, chief of the PCG Sub-station-Malacañang, said yesterday that they went on full alert beginning Saturday after Duterte held her press conference and reportedly mentioned a plot to assassinate the President and his wife.

HR 2092

House lawmakers unanimously adopted yesterday evening House Resolution 2092, expressing their full support to the President and the Speaker amid the threats made by Duterte.

“The importance of this resolution cannot be overstated. As members of this honorable and highly esteemed institution, it is our responsibility to uphold the dignity, honor and integrity of the House of Representatives,” said senior deputy speaker and Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., the resolution’s principal sponsor. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Michael Punongbayan, Mark Ernest Villeza, Evelyn Macairan