DILG: Ex-politicians tagged in junta recruitment

MANILA, Philippines — Several personalities involved in efforts to destabilize the Marcos administration through a civilian-military junta have been identified, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday.

Most of the suspects exploring an alternative form of government are retired or “semi-active” politicians, he noted.

“They were in office a term ago and they are still making themselves public. So we call them semi-active politicians,” he explained. “They’re still politicians, except not in office. They like to interfere, but they are no longer elected.”

Security and intelligence units are monitoring the people involved in efforts to oust President Marcos, Remulla said.

“We know who are asking, who are the ones recruiting. We know what they’re up to. We know what they are offering,” he said.

Recruiters are offering their targets government positions and money, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said, as it maintains that rumors about the formation of a junta are baseless.

Remulla said there is no cause for alarm and they are focusing on arresting officials involved in anomalous flood control projects.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, said it is conducting intelligence monitoring to thwart attempts to topple the government.

“With or without threat, our intelligence gathering continues to prevent threats or modus operandi,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said at a news briefing in Camp Crame.