MANILA, Philippines - The Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) has debunked rumors of a plot to assassinate President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Quoting ISAFP chief Brig. Gen. Romulo Bambao, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said there is no existing plot to kill the President from all fronts: the communists, secessionists, and even the terrorists.
"I have just been in touch with our intelligence operatives, particularly the intelligence chief and there is no specific report regarding the assassination plot on the President," he said.
A mayor simply quoted out of context Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, he said.
Gazmin supposedly told Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano that the group of former Ozamis City Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog wants Aquino dead.
Parojinog is allegedly the former leader of Kuratong Baleleng, an anti-communist vigilante group that turned into a kidnapping and smuggling syndicate.
He already denied the plot, noting the rumor could have been spread by political rival, Misamis Occidental Rep. Leo de Ocampos.
Nonetheless, ISAFP proceeded to investigate the matter even if such threat had been previously dismissed by the Department of National Defense.
"There is nothing to it…Initial reports tends to support the thesis that there is no plot against the President….As of now, we can go on record that there is nothing to it," Mabanta said.
Even the Presidential Security Group (PSG) does not need to make adjustments, he said.
“The PSG is on alert whatever the situation is, no change,” he added
