The Philippine National Police (PNP) belied on Tuesday, May 7, the statement of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV that there are retired and high-ranking active police officials who are involved in the plot to oust President Marcos.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said their intelligence units have not received a report indicating the veracity of Trillanes’ statement.

“We don’t know where former senator Antonio Trillanes has been getting the information but on the part of the PNP, we have not monitored any active policeman involved in the destabilization plot,” said Fajardo.

“Our appeal to former senator Trillanes is to please spare the PNP from this issue because we are focused on fulfilling our mandate,” she added.

In a press conference, Trillanes was quoted saying that there are active police officials and retired military officials allied with former president Rodrigo Duterte who have been recruiting policemen and soldiers to join the ouster plot.

The recruitment, he said, was aimed at protecting Duterte from the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court, which he said, is expected to be released in the middle of this year.

But Fajardo said the morale of the PNP is high and there is no reason for any active PNP members to join the destabilization plot.

“The PNP will remain apolitical and we will always uphold the Constitution,” said Fajardo.

Fajardo stressed that a harsh penalty awaits those who would dare to join the destabilization plot: “But like what I said, we have not monitored anything about this issue.”