COMMUNIST insurgents were lacking ability to topple the Duterte government, Malacañang said on Tuesday, October 16, as the supposed "Red October" plot meant to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte this month seemed to be fizzling out.
Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo shrugged off the possibility that another ouster move was brewing.
"Hindi naman ako magtataka na palaging mayroon (I will not be surprised if there's always a) plot because that's precisely the rationale of the creation of the Communist Party of the Philippines -- to oust the present government," Panelo said.
"So kataka-taka kung hindi sila nagpaplano ng ouster move every day. Eh 50 years na nilang pinaplano pero so far, nabibigo naman sila (It's more surprising if they are not planning for an ouster move every day. They have been doing it for 50 years but so far, they do not succeed)," he added.
In July, the military unearthed the ouster plot dubbed as "Red October," based on the retrieved documents and testimonies of former communist rebels.
Duterte in September revealed that the communists are conniving with opposition groups, including the Liberal Party and Magdalo group, to boot him out of office.
On Saturday, October 14, Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison slammed the military for claiming that they successfuly foiled "Red October," a plot he stressed was merely "invented" by the government.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Bigadier General Edgardo Arevalo on Monday, October 15, said another destabilization move may yet be mounted by December, the month when the communist rebels mark the 50th anniversary of the CPP.
Rift between the Duterte administration and the CPP continues to grow after Duterte delayed the scheduled resumption of peace talks in June.
Irked by Duterte's postponement of peace dialogue, Sison had said the communists would no longer negotiate with the current administration and would instead seek Duterte's ouster.
Asked if the government is still open to possible revival of peace negotiations with the communists, Panelo said certain conditions need to be met first.
Panelo, however, noted that Duterte is "always open to reconciliation."
"Eh sa ngayon, hindi dahil hindi nga nila tinutupad 'yung mga napag-usapan nung nakaraan (As of now, no, because they are not complying with the conditions previously set for the revival of talks)," he said.
"But definitely the President, his mind is always open to reconciliation. As he said, hindi pupwedeng tayong mga Pilipino nagpapatayan (Filipinos should not kill each other)," he added. (SunStar Philippines)