Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Kingdom have expressed mixed reactions to the news that Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino lll “seeks to quash rumors of a military coup.”
Some believe that there’s really a coup being planned. “If there’s smoke, there’s fire,” said one community leader in the Saudi capital.
Earlier, Sen. Antonio Trillanes lV, who has contacts inside the military, claimed that there was a coup brewing against the Aquino administration.
Trillanes was with the Philippine Navy and was involved in the so-called Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003 during the presidency of former president and now Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“However, the alleged plotters said to be retired generals are not that strong to lead a coup. Besides, President Aquino is on top of the situation, having done much for the military and its personnel,” the community leader said.
He noted that aside from launching housing projects for and increasing salaries of military personnel, President Aquino also bought arms and ammunition in order to maintain peace and order in the country and in protecting citizens.
In all likelihood, he added, the military won’t turn its back on Aquino, who still enjoys popularity among the majority of Filipinos.
An OFW in the Eastern Province said that the “news about an alleged coup d’etat could be true, coming as it does from Trillanes who is an ally of Aquino.”
“If the news came from the opposition, then we have reasons to doubt it,” he said.
Other OFWs said that the issue is very sensitive and expressed the hope that the rumors are not true because the safety of their loved ones in the Philippines would be jeopardized if and when the military takes over.
“I just hope that the news is not true. And if it’s true, I cross my fingers that no bloodshed would take place,” said another community leader in the Central Province.
Talking about the issue, Maj. Gen. Eduardo Ano, former head of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), said, “There is no such thing.”
Ano has been appointed commander of the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The ISAFP on Thursday denied reports of an imminent coup even as it dismissed threats that retired military officers who are critical of the government are security risks.
Filipinos have mixed reaction to coup rumors
