AFP: No threat in 29th EDSA celebration

MANILA, Philippines - The military did not detect any threat or coup plot that would threaten the leadership of President Aquino and disrupt the celebration of the 29th anniversary of the 1987 EDSA Revolution.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said crowd management, not ouster plots, is the main concern for the anniversary of the People Power revolt, which happened exactly a month after the Mamasapano clash.

“Reports about coups are just rumors being circulated by people who want to sow disorder. They want to peddle these rumors to disrupt the normal lives of our countrymen,” Padilla said in an interview on Tuesday.

“The primary issue is crowd control. We have not heard or monitored any serious threat except crowd control issues,” he added.

Col. Vic Tomas, deputy commander of the Armed Forces Joint Task Force National Capital Region, is optimistic that no member of the uniformed services would join anti-government uprisings.

“I am proud to and I am confident to say that the armed forces and the police will not join this kind of exercise or adventurism in spite of the ongoing issues,” Tomas said.

Tomas said while groups critical of the government have the right to express their views, they should not shatter the spirit of Edsa.

“Definitely the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) are one in their sworn duty to protect the country and preserve our democratic institutions,” he added.

Reports about the alleged plots to oust the Aquino administration surfaced amid the outcry over the brutal killing of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers in Mamasapano by Moro rebels last Jan. 25.

There were speculations that some military and police officers are disgruntled with the Aquino administration for supposedly being too soft on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, one of the groups that figured in the encounter.

Members of the government negotiating panel have also been accused of acting as spokespersons for the MILF to save the peace talks.

Early this month, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago revealed that some groups backed by a “very rich man” are planning to oust the government but did not elaborate. 

Military and police officials have repeatedly given assurances that they would not join any destabilization plots against the Aquino regime.

They claim that they remain united and faithful to the chain of command despite the finger-pointing on who should be blamed for the deaths of the SAF troopers.

Unity Walk

To show that they are not affected by the issues surrounding the Mamasapano incident, military and police officials will stage a unity walk on Wednesday from Camp Aguinaldo Gate 2 to the EDSA People Power Monument.

More than 300 soldiers will join the activity to be held at around 10:30 a.m.

“The activity is a symbolic one both in reenacting the unity of the Filipino people and in signifying the solidarity of the AFP and the PNP in serving the country,” AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. said in a statement.

Padilla admitted that the unity walk would be held to counter notions that there is a rift between the police and the military.

“We want to show our countrymen that the armed forces and the police remain solid,” he said.

When asked whether the unity walk is an assurance to the president that he still has the support of the security forces, Padilla said: “As we have said before, it is very clear to every solider and policeman that we have a duty to perform and that is to be loyal to the constitution.”

“We will support the leaders elected by our people,” he added.

At least 500 soldiers will be deployed to support the police in securing the EDSA Revolution anniversary activities.

The soldiers will be placed under the control of the National Capital Region Police Office, the lead agency for the security of the event.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said the security contingent is composed of civil disturbance management personnel, explosive ordnance division teams, and K-9 teams from different military units.