MANILA -- There is nothing new with the communist rebels' plans to destablize the existing government, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said late Wednesday.
He made this statement when asked if there are reports that rebels are planning to disrupt President Rodrigo Duterte's third State of the Nation Address (SONA) this coming July 23.
"Actually yung (the) left naman eh, they have never changed their stand ever since. They will always destablize any sitting government, any sitting president. Ang nagbabago lang dyan yung mga protesta nila, yung mga placard nila, nagbabago lang pangalan ng presidente eh (What only changes is their protests, their placards, it's only the name of the president that changes)," Detoyato stressed.
The AFP public affairs chief added that they have yet to detect any security threats for the SONA aside from rallies planned by militant groups.
Earlier, Detoyato said the AFP through its Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) will be deploying 600 officers and enlisted personnel to augment the security measures being implemented by the police during this year's SONA.
He added that this force can be augmented if needed. (PNA)
