Sources of alleged destabilization plot memos identified

Sources of a supposed memorandum placing the police force on high alert last weekend that started rumors of a destabilization plot in the Armed Forces have been identified by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group Tuesday.

Colonel Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said the ACG and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have looked into social media posts regarding the supposed memos.

According to Col. Redrico Maranan, acting chief of the PNP Public Information Office, an initial investigation conducted by the ACG showed that a civilian was the first one who posted a copy of one of the memos online.

“So only one individual was said to be the source on the spread of said memo with heading from PRO13,” Maranan said.

Fajardo said she was not at liberty to divulge the findings.

Following Azurin’s order, authorities immediately investigated the social media circulation of the documents and demanded an explanation from police officers whose names appeared on the documents.

The controversial memos quickly circulated online just hours after Gen. Andres Centino was reappointed as AFP chief of staff on 7 January 2022.

Tension rose after three alleged memos bearing the PNP letterhead surfaced online — two signed by Col. Alikhan Yusop and Lt. Colonel Dexter Ominga, and another unsigned by Col. James Goforth stamped as “Advance Copy”.

Yusop is the Police Regional Office 9’s Regional Operations Division Chief, while Goforth is the PRO-13’s ROD chief, and Ominga is the command duty officer of PRO Cordillera.

All three memos dated 7 January 2022 called on respective downline units to stay on a “full alert status” starting Saturday “in view of the resignation of all personnel” of the DND housed inside the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Police personnel nationwide were required 100-percent attendance and ordered to monitor the activities of AFP troops in their areas, and hold simulation exercises.

The PNP, however, quickly denied the validity of the memos. It added that the full alert status was for the celebration of the Feast of Black Nazarene in the City of Manila.