PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa said the police force will not support any attempt to oust President Rodrigo Duterte ahead of the commemoration of the 1986 People Power Revolution.
Gamboa downplayed the call of at least 100 protesters for Duterte’s ouster on February 22 at the People Power Monument along Edsa.
"Ganun naman palagi, 'pag malapit na mag-Edsa, o may mag-oust, may ganyan," Gamboa said in an interview.
"They cannot afford it because they don't have the support of the police and the military," he added.
The country will commemorate the 34th People Power Revolution anniversary on Tuesday, February 25.
Gamboa assured that the PNP and their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not support any plan to unseat Duterte.
"We assure the public that there is no such thing that will be supported by the PNP and AFP," the PNP chief said.
Gamboa also noted that President enjoys high ratings on surveys of his performance, indicating public support.
Earlier, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison said military personnel, particularly those “loyal” to the United States (US), were cooking up a coup d’etat after the administration served notice to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement.
AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo denied Sison’s claim.
“Ang AFP po ay propesyunal na organisasyon, tayo po ay sumusuporta at loyal sa ating constitution as a duly constituted authority. Hindi po tayo sasali sa mga ganyang usapin sapagkat malinaw naman ang mandato ng Armed Forces-- to protect the people and to secure the state,” he said.
“Marami pong kalaban ang ating estado na nagbabanta sa ating kararinlan, sa kapayaan at pagunlad ng ating bansa, kaya yan po ang ating hinaharap at yan po dapat nating pagtutukan ng pansin, hindi po ang mga ika nga ‘yung...mga bulung-bulungan at mga ugong na ganyan subalit kung meron pong magababanta na katulad nyan ay handa po tayong labanan yan at lupigin at hindi sila magtagumpay,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)