What destabilization?
Gen. Dionardo Carlos, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), denied receiving report of a destabilization plot during and after the elections, especially if victorious candidates are already proclaimed.
"So far si (Police Major Genera) Val de Leon (head of the PNP Directorate for Operations) has been monitoring the elections. We have not received any major report on that," said Carlos in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, April 18.
Even Carlos initially doubted reports that Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo was quoted saying that there will be destabilization if she is defeated.
"Did she make that statement? Sinabi ni Ma'am? (She said that?)," Carlos reacted when a reporter asked about reports that Robredo allegedly was quoted saying that.
The same question was asked by another reporter during a press briefing of presidential candidates Isko Moreno, Ping Lacson and Norberto Gonzales at the Manila Peninsula Hotel on Sunday, April 17.
But fact checker clarified that Robredo did not such statement and in fact, that statement was attributed to another presidential candidate.
When the reporter told Carlos that it was floated during a presscon at the Manila Peninsula Hotel, he said: "We will get it also. Sa amin kasi (on our part), we don't see anything that would hamper or derail the election up to May 9."
Carlos said that they will also coordinate with Senator Lacson with regard to the alleged destabilization plot.
Carlos also clarified that they will look into the allegation of an alliance of a presidential candidate with the New People's Army (NPA).
This allegation was hurled against Robredo after her campaign sortie in Cavite where her camp was also accused of paying P500 to those attended the event. The camp of Robredo denied the allegation.
"We will work on what the information on the ground. What we are trying to say we will make sure that the election will be peaceful and the PNP will only perform professionally. In all aspects, we have already prepared," said Carlos.