‘Concocted ouster plots an excuse to tap intel funds’

The military has been “concocting” ouster plots against President Duterte to justify its use of “billions” in intelligence funds, congressmen said yesterday.

“So Red October was moved to December. What is it called now – Red Nose Reindeer? The ever-evolving storyline of the military about this supposed ouster plot has become so confusing that even they cannot figure out which is the head or the tail,” Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo said.

“These comical fairytales have become a black eye for the military intelligence community. Are those the result of using billions in intelligence funds appropriated for the military?” he asked.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said the military “is again seeing ghosts of an ouster plot coinciding with the All Souls’ Day celebration.

“It is good to remind them that instead of seeing ghosts, they should look into how we can defend our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. Chinese incursions are real not imagined and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) must assert defense of our territory in a peaceful yet firm manner,” Villarin said.

“It should thus stop concocting ouster plots like some ‘communist rolling plan’ whose dates keep moving from Red October to Golden December supposedly in time for the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)’s 50th anniversary. Filipinos are getting tired of these alleged plots that are mere hallucinations rather than based on actionable intelligence. Get real, soldiers!” he said.

Leftist party-list groups said the AFP has started arresting activists and branding them as communists to justify the supposed December coup plot against the Duterte administration.