THE New People’s Army (NPA) will be launching a nationwide simultaneous attack on police stations and military detachments on October 17 as part of the “Red October” ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte, a military official said.
“Ang objective nila sana ‘yun nga talagang ipakita na meron pa silang ibubuga (Their objective is to show that they still are powerful,” said Brigadier General Antonio Parlade, assistant deputy chief of staff for Operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“Hanggang November ‘yun (Red October), pero karamihan October, October 17 ang pinakatarget nila na, kumbaga peak nung kanilang (plano) [The Red October is until November, but their target is October 17],” he added.
He said based on a “memorandum” distributed by the NPA leadership to all its units, the leftist groups, aside from the offensive attacks, will also stage protests on the same day, wherein they will use labor groups and other activist groups.
But Parlade said they are doubtful that such plan would be successful.
“Wala, hindi sila makagenerate (ng sasama sa kanila), ang dami na ngang umatras, ‘yung mga schools umatras dahil hindi nila ma-convince si Bishop Tagle na sumama dun sa original plan nila, kasi alam na nyang ano, ng ibang sectors na CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) ang nagpapatakbo so pati ‘yung mga union members ngayon medyo nae-educate na, luma-lie low na dyan sa mga ganyang activity, so actually talagang ano, nabukulan sila, na-paralyze ‘yung kanilang plano,” he said.
(They cannot generate a huge crowd. In fact, a lot of groups, including schools, have backed out because they could not convince Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle to join them because they know that it's the CPP who's orchestrating it. Even the union members have laid low, so their plan was actually paralyzed).
Parlade said they have alerted the police and military units about possible attacks by the NPA rebels.
Earlier, AFP Chief-of-Staff Carlito Galvez Jr. said he discovered an ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte planned by a coalition led by leftist leaders Rey Casambre and Satur Ocampo, while other members include the critics of the administration, such as former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and some members of the Liberal party.
Galvez said the coalition is doing an economic sabotage where NPA members are infiltrating the labor organization of different companies and encouraging them to conduct strike for not receiving the right compensation, which may later on lead to the closure of the company.
For his part, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said the PNP is ready to provide security during the conduct of protests.
“’Yung mga kilos protesta parang naging part ng buhay natin yan by some sectors of our society although in any protest or rally, kailangan natin mag-provide ng security not only for those who are conducting the rally but also sa mga hindi to maintain the peace and order kung saan sila nagrarally,” he said.
(Protests have become part of the police force's lives, since we need to provide security not only for those who are conducting the rally, but to also maintain peace and order in areas where the rallies are held).
“With regards kung ito ay connected sa sinasabing Red October, wala tayong makuhang ano (report) dyan. What we know doon sa grassroots kasi parang iniinstigate nila the labor sector na mag-rally kaya ‘yung mga sa factories madalas nagra-rally tapos na iinfiltrate yan ng mga makakaliwa,” he added.
(We don't have any report as to the so-called Red October. What we know from the grassroots is that the labor sector is instigating the rallies and the leftist groups are infiltrating them).
Albayalde clarified that the military and the Duterte administration have a basis with regard to the Red October plot.
But he said that for the PNP, they do not take it as a serious threat, although it can be of their concern.
“Hindi sya nakikita nating threat as of this time but it can be a concern but we do not treat it as a threat as far as the PNP is concerned. I don't know with the other agencies,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)