Stop destabilization rumors, DND asks public

MANILA, Philippines - The defense department yesterday urged those who are peddling rumors about destabilization plots to stop and just focus on “positive things” happening in the country.

Department of National Defense spokesman Peter Galvez said talk about the supposed coup plots could harm the economy and does not help in promoting development.

“Whoever is spreading such kind of rumors should stop. There are no complaints among the soldiers and we can see what the President is doing,” Galvez told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“They should not talk like that. Maybe it would be better if we concentrate on the positive things that are happening in our nation,” he added.

Galvez said the Aquino administration is providing soldiers the equipment they need to perform their mission.

Earlier, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV revealed that some retired generals identified with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are hatching a plot against the Aquino administration.

He claimed that former generals are meeting with active military officers to convince them to destabilize the government.

Trillanes’ allies in Magdalo, a group of rebel soldiers who staged a failed uprising against the Arroyo administration, confirmed that some retired generals are planning to destabilize the government but no names have been revealed.

Amid rumors that some retired generals are plotting against the government, a convoy of military vehicles was seen again yesterday in Tondo, Manila.

Online photos showed that the convoy consisted of at least two armored personnel carriers and several military trucks.

The military, however, clarified that the movement of military vehicles had nothing to do with supposed destabilization plots against the government.

“It was a logistics run. It was fully coordinated and authorized,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.

Zagala said the convoy moved supplies from a Manila pier to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. He declined to enumerate the assets that were part of the convoy.

“We transported mission essential equipment,” Zagala said.

“There is nothing to worry about,” he added.

Last Wednesday, about five military vehicles were seen along EDSA in Quezon City.

Officials clarified that the movement was necessary to provide vital equipment to troops in the field.

The military convoy carrying “critical items” came from the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command and were bound for the Army Support Command.

Loyalty check?

Galvez accompanied Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to Camp Aquino in Tarlac yesterday, a trip that was supposed to assess the soldiers’ readiness to respond to disasters.

There were speculations that the visit was part of a “loyalty check,” but Galvez insisted it had nothing to do with the alleged coup plots.

“We just reminded our troops to prepare, especially now that we have entered the typhoon season,” Galvez said in Filipino.

“We are checking their readiness and determining the equipment they need. Hopefully we can try to get all these equipment so they can strengthen their disaster relief operations,” he added.