ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) remains loyal to the government and won’t support plots to oust President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, spokesperson of the regional police.
The President asked state security forces not to stage a coup d’etat against his government at the recent 72nd anniversary of the Philippine Air Force.
“I know the Armed Forces (of the Philippines) and the (Philippine National) Police will have to decide one day somehow. Do not do it, please, during my term,” Duterte said.
“The PRO-6 has not monitored any brewing coup d’etat in the region. We would like to assure the public that the whole police force in Western Visayas is loyal to the government and to the people it serves,” said Malong.
PRO-6 police personnel themselves have no plan to stage a coup d’etat against the present administration, she stressed.
“We continue to monitor the movement of our men and we know they are contented of the benefits and salaries they have right now. There’s no reason to stage a coup d’etat,” Malong added.
Duterte told the military and the police he did not want violence.
“Kung ayaw ninyo ako, do not bring your weapons and mechanized armors. Just call me, we will have coffee and I am ready to say, ‘It’s yours,’” he said.
Duterte made the remarks as he addressed the issue of corruption, which he said would one day spur the soldiers and police officers to launch a coup.
He also made them after he revealed that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed verbally that Chinese fishermen may fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Duterte’s remarks have resulted in some critics suggesting that he be impeached for failure to uphold the constitutional provisions on the country’s territory and sovereignty./PN
