The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assured on Tuesday, June 21, that it will thwart any attempt of leftist groups to throw into disarray the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr.
In a statement, the DILG specifically pointed out that it would not allow the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its allied and front organizations to embarrass or discredit the incoming administration.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya stressed this in response to the alleged claims of the former cadres of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) stating that the communist terrorist group (CTG) plan to muddle or disrupt the oath-taking ceremony of Marcos Jr. on June 30.
In the June 20 National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) briefing, former rebels Orlando “Ka Warly” Baluyot, now chairman of Tinang Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Ka Pong Sibayan, a farmer from Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac said the radical left has started organizing farmers in their province for this purpose.
Aside from Hacienda Tinang, Malaya said that the former rebels noted that officials and members of CPP-NPA-NDF front organizations have also been meeting with the farmers from nearby Hacienda Murcia and Barangay Central inside Hacienda Luisita.
“Ayaw talaga nilang maupo si Marcos. Iyon (disrupt) ang nakita natin na gagawin nila sa June 30 bago maupo si Pangulong Bongbong Marcos (They really do not want Marcos to assume his post. We saw the plan they intend to do on June 30 before President Bongbong Marcos assumes the Presidency,’’ Baluyot said.
“We are taking these intelligence reports seriously and we will do what is necessary to thwart any attempt to embarrass or discredit the forthcoming inauguration,” Malaya said.
The DILG and NTF-ELCAC spokesperson disclosed that the department and other security agencies have finalized all security preparation for the inauguration and this includes the mobilization of around 6,200 police officers around the National Museum in the coming days.
He added that it is not surprising that the (CTGs) are planning something to embarrass the incoming administration. “That’s part of their playbook.
“Whoever sits in Malacanang is their enemy because ultimately, all they want is to overthrow the government through violent means to be followed by a socialist revolution.’’ he added.
Malaya revealed that “the leftist organizers have been organizing in Tarlac, Cavite, Pampanga, Laguna in the past weeks to mobilize people for their nefarious ends.’’
“They are even misleading the youth to join them in their protest actions,” Malaya noted.
In preparation for Marcos Jr’s. inauguration, Malaya said the PNP will have additional mobile forces on standby should radical leftist groups attempt to disrupt the inauguration.
“We respect the people’s rights to free expression, peaceably assemble and the exercise of their democratic rights but this has to be done within the bounds of the law. Therefore, we advise all protesters to hold their peaceful demonstrations in Manila’s designated freedom parks such as Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, Plaza Moriones, and Liwasang Bonifacio. There are so many to choose from,” Malaya emphasized.
Earlier, incoming Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile warned of a credible plot to embarrass the incoming administration.
“I just picked up what I consider to be a credible information that there are groups in America and in the Philippines planning and preparing to cause serious embarrassment and trouble for our newly-elected President,” Enrile said in a Facebook post.
“Caution is the name of the game. You are just starting you travel in troubled waters. Your adversaries have not stopped. To borrow a phrase from someone, right now ‘they are hiding their brightness and biding their time,’” he added.
“I have a humble unsolicited advice for the national security officials of the new regime. Instead of making soft and pacific statements seemingly intended to quiet and to gain the cooperation, trust, and confidence of the habitual trouble makers in this country, I suggest that they should sharpen their intelligence information,” Enrile said. (Chito A. Chavez)