DAVAO CITY, Philippines – There is no coup threat against President Duterte and he can rest easy despite the upcoming celebration of the 31st anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolution on Feb. 25, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said yesterday.
Esperon also said there is no need for a loyalty check among the police and the military to see if they stand solidly behind the President seven months into his administration.
“Even when I was counterintelligence chief of the (Philippine) Army before as a younger officer, we do not do that. We do our own intelligence work but I do not call for loyalty checks. We don’t call for loyalty checks,” Esperon said.
“You know, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the PNP (Philippine National Police) have learned from this as part of professionalism in the past and today, I will tell you that the AFP or the PNP will not engage in any coup,” he stressed.
Esperon said they “have trust and confidence in our officers” who are leading the enlisted personnel, thus there is nothing to worry about.
But Esperon said there might be efforts by certain groups to destabilize the Duterte government.
“Other groups? They can destabilize by coming up with false news releases. But you and I know that the President has the support of the people and the AFP and the PNP,” Esperon said.
The President attended the annual homecoming of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City over the weekend, when he was adopted by the PMA Alumni Association. Duterte was previously adopted by PMA Class 1967.
The President has also made it a point to visit the various military camps and police headquarters all over the country since he assumed office.
Duterte likewise regularly visits the wakes of slain soldiers and policemen killed in the line of duty under his administration.
He also awards wounded soldiers and policemen with medals to pay tribute to the service they have rendered.