AFP admits monitoring Leni, Leila, Trillanes

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla confirmed yesterday morning on local radio that the military is monitoring the movements of Vice President Leni Robredo and two opposition senators. 

Speaking via the Bombo Radyo network, Padilla said the military has started monitoring Robredo, and Senators Leila de Lima – currently detained at Camp Crame on drug charges – and Antonio Trillanes IV. All three belong to the Liberal Party (LP).

The confirmation was also reported in a news story posted on the station’s official website. The monitoring, according to Padilla, started after Duterte mentioned in many of his speeches that these officials allegedly were behind destabilization efforts against his administration.

Duterte had also claimed that the Vice President was in a hurry to replace him as president. Just recently, Duterte invited Robredo and her family to a dinner.  

Padilla said that as of now, and based on their monitoring, there have been no big groups behind the three in the alleged destabilization efforts against the present administration. 

“But we will not just be sitting down and complacent, hoping that the military is prepared always on any eventualities that may cause trouble – connected or not in the destabilization plot,” Padilla assured the public. ‘Do not kill my guards’

Meanwhile, Duterte is asking those in the military who are planning to oust him not to kill his guards – the Presidential Security Group (PSG) tasked to secure him and members of his immediate family.

“They are just the same, you are all soldiers. Or if you want to impeach me, go ahead, so it’s my destiny,” the President said during the groundbreaking ceremonies for a new drug treatment and rehabilitation center in Malaybalay, Bukidnon over the weekend.Duterte made the statement amid reports of efforts of certain sectors to destabilize his nine-month-old administration. – With Edith Regalado