MANILA, Philippines — The military is spreading rumors by linking Lumad rights organizations to the supposed "Red October" plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte, a Moro activist group said.
In a statement, Suara Bangsamoro said rallies are a legitimate expression of democratic rights.
It also said the supposed plot "is plain gimmickry devised to create an imaginary threat to divert the public's attention away from burning issues of inflation and worsening economic situation" and that protests and mobilizations are a legitimate exercise of democratic rights.
Eastern Mindanao Command: Mobilizations part of ouster plans
Suara Bangsamoro was responding to a statement by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Eastern Mindanao Command that communist rebels "through their front organizations are carrying special lumad/IP campaign narratives such as 'Bakwit Lumad,' Attack on IP schools, and 'Lakbay Lumad'."
Eastmincom said the campaign is meant "to foment continuing unrest by way of agitation among the urban poor and rural peasant communities" and lead to the overthrow of the government.
Citing military intelligence, Eastmincom said communists "will mobilize different groups and sectors in the different regions to oust [President Rodrigo Duterte.]"
It said that the mobilizations will include "hyping the issue of alleged extrajudicial killings, attack on lumad communities, and human rights violations."
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The military also said that "high-ranking [Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army] personalities" were captured in General Santos City in July while planning "the mobilization of their masses and implement their plans to oust [Duterte]."
Eastmincom said the mobilizations would be done on "red letter dates" like September 21—the commemoration of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos' martial law declaration—and Peasant Week on the third week of October.
The supposed attempt to overthrow the government on September 21 did not happen although there were rallies to mark the declaration of martial law.
Suara Bangsamoro: Supposed 'front' groups were once Palace guests
"Mobilizations and protests are exercises of democratic rights of the people guaranteed by the Constitution. Because of the negligence of the Duterte government to address intense militarization, human rights violations, joblessness, soaring prices of goods and worsening poverty, the people of Mindanao are taking the streets to protest," Suara Bangsamoro said.
"General Madrigal, have you forgotten that just two years ago, the Lumad organizations that you are branding as CPP front groups are the same organizations that President Duterte entertained in Malacañang as his special guests?" Suara Bangsamoro said, addressing Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., Eastmincom chief.
"In the same year, the Lakbayan of the Mindanaoans rallied in Manila in support of president's call for independent foreign policy," the group said. Activists were injured in a scuffle with police at an October 2016 rally against alleged US intervention in the Philippines.
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"Instead of prioritizing the welfare of the impoverished, the government would rather focus its resources on throwing the underserved such as the Lumad, in the line of fire," the group said as it stated that the "Red October" plot does not exist.
"It is a psywar tactic by the government to silence critics and discourage citizens from airing out their grievances against the administration," the group said.
Groups whom President Duterte, and later the military, tagged in a supposed conspiracy have disavowed the supposed plot.