LIKE the military chief, Department of the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said he refused to believe that opposition lawmakers are involved in the ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte.
"There is the attempt of the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) NPA (New People’s Army) to involve these groups--Magdalo (Partylist) and LP (Liberal Party). But, I think LP and Magdalo are smart enough not to be trapped in this kind," he said.
Año said the “Red October” plot which the military claim aims to unseat Duterte was planned solely by the communist group.
“CPP talaga 'yan. Red October is purely a CPP-NPA plot. Pero ang gusto nila sana ma-involve 'yung ibang grupo through alliance, so ganon 'yun (But they want other groups to get involved)," he said.
Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of staff Carlito Galvez Jr. disclosed having discovered the “Red October” ouster plot allegedly hatched by communist leaders Rey Casambre and Satur Ocampo.
Brigadier General Antonio Parlade, assistant deputy chief of staff for operations of the AFP, said others involved in the plot were critics of the administration, such as former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and some members of the Liberal Party.
Galvez, however, cleared LP members during the Senate hearing on the proposed 2019 budget for the Department of National Defense (DND).
The military said "Red October" involves economic sabotage, with communist terrorists infiltrating organized labor and instigating strikes that could lead to the closure of some companies.
Galvez also earlier alleged that the communists have penetrated schools in Metro Manila to recruit more members. (SunStar Philippines)