Palace: Military ready to stop coup d'etat

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said Thursday that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is prepared to stop a possible uprising among its ranks amid the public outrage against the government over the deadly Mamasapano incident.

"Lahat ng mga banta laban sa estado ay tinututukan at ganap ang kahandaan ng ating sandatahang lakas laban sa mga bantang iyan," Presidential Communications Operations Office Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing.

"Katungkulan ng sandatahang lakas na pigilan at puksain ang lahat ng kalaban ng estado at ginagampanan nila ang tungkuling ito sa lahat ng pagkakataon," he added.

Coloma made the same statement when asked if the government needs to conduct a loyalty check among its soldiers.

The Palace official clarified that he is not confirming if there is indeed a brewing plot to overthrow the Aquino government through military force.

The supposed plot was bared by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago at the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the January 25 Mamasapano incident on Thursday.

Santiago said she received an intelligence report that certain groups financed by a "very rich man" are in talks of a coup d'etat.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told Santiago at the hearing that they are still verifying similar reports that they have received.

The coup rumors have floated while the Aquino government remains under fire due to its botched operation against terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Filipino Basit Usman.

After 44 police commandos were killed in the operation, various sectors had demanded accountability from Aquino and resigned Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, who allegedly orchestrated the botched operation even if he was then suspended over corruption allegations.

The Chief Executive is no stranger to coup d'etat since the administration of his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, survived several attempts of military uprising.