AFP checking reports of rally infiltrators
Ahead of the three-day rally by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) at the Luneta beginning on Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Friday it has received unverified reports of possible infiltrators that may attempt to mar protest actions with violence.
“We are calling on them to secure, to police their ranks, to make sure that they will not be infiltrated because there are people reporting to us and to the Philippine National Police that they might get infiltrated, and that there might be infiltrators and that someone might detonate grenades,” AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. told reporters during the Dagit-Pa closing military exercises at Camp Aguinaldo.
Brawner also said the military is verifying reports that an active-duty soldier may be involved in alleged destabilization efforts against the Marcos administration.
“The intelligence community has not reported to me yet, but they’re already doing their investigation, especially on active members of the AFP. There’s one on the list, so that’s what we’re really looking into,” he said.
“We have to examine these reports carefully. But as far as we’re concerned, these are political. The AFP remains focused on its mandate—internal security operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response and territorial defense,” Brawner said.
Separate rallies
The INC rally is the second by the influential sect after its “National Rally for Peace” on Jan. 13, which was also held at the Luneta amid the widening rift then between President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.
The United People’s Initiative (UPI), a group led by retired military officials, will hold its rally at the People Power Monument, while the INC gathers its members in Manila.
UPI executive secretary Mark Dilson Bertuldo said his group had applied for a three-day rally at the People Power Monument but was only given a rally permit of one day.
“I hope it will be really peaceful because that is the promise of the organizers,” Brawner said when asked about the rallies this weekend.
“For Nov. 16, 17 and 18, the AFP is ready to support the PNP so that we can maintain peace and order,” he said. “If there are emergencies, we are ready to help.”
The PNP said it will exercise “maximum tolerance” during the three-day assemblies in Manila and Quezon City.
Ahead of these gatherings, activists have maintained their protests since the corruption scandal over the government’s flood control projects erupted in July.
‘Gangsta’ groups
Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday appealed to parents not to let their children join “gangsta” groups that may incite violence during the INC rally.
“To the parents, please remind your children not to join ‘geng-geng’ or ‘gangsta’ groups,” he said in a statement. “Anyone who plans to disrupt the peace will be dealt with the full force of the law.”
“We at the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) are one with the Iglesia ni Cristo’s call for truth, accountability and justice [which is] the voice and cry of every Filipino. Part of our responsibility is to maintain peace and order in the activities [planned until Tuesday],” Remulla said.
The “Trillion Peso March” by protesters on Sept. 21 was disrupted by riots near Mendiola Bridge and Ayala Bridge, two gateways to Malacañang, which protesters there had planned to enter, according to police.
Around 200 suspected rioters, many of them wearing black clothes and flashing gang signs, were arrested and at least two people were killed in the ensuing violence.
“The freedom to peacefully gather to express grievances is enshrined in our Constitution. To cause harm and chaos is not among those rights,” Remulla said.
