Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, that a number of active high-ranking police officials were enlisting people to join a plot to destabilize President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Trillanes claimed in a press conference that ex-service members were also attempting to enlist soldiers in favor of the conspiracy to remove them from power.

“Meron pong mga na-identify na active PNP officials, active and retired actually, PNP officials na sumasama dito sa destabilization efforts. Pero base sa impormasyon natin, na-identify na sila and mahirapan na sila gumalaw,” Trillanes said.

The former senator claimed that although “recruitment” began last year, no one has yet been joined.

Trillanes refused to reveal his sources, but did say he had Army friends. When asked if his sources were active duty and in the right position to disclose him such information, he replied, “Yes.”

Ouster Plot intended to protect ex-president Duterte

Trillanes believes the plot is aimed to defend former President Rodrigo Duterte in view of the possibility of an arrest warrant being issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the alleged crime against humanity of murder in the country during his drug war.

“Ang pakay sa ouster plot ay para patalsikin ang Presidente (Marcos). Therefore, sino ang papalit? Vice President na anak n’ya (Duterte),” he said.

According to Trillanes, the ICC may issue an arrest warrant for Duterte by June based on information from people who are “privy to the investigations being done by the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC.”

“This will come in batches. The first batch si Duterte, the father. The second batch, baka sila (Senator) Bong Go, Bato (Senator Ronald dela Rosa), at si Vice President Sara Duterte. Tapos ang third batch would be some PNP (Philippine National Police) officials and some other senior officials of the Duterte administration,” he said.

“Ano na ‘yan, kumbaga, it goes without saying. Hindi naman gagalaw itong mga ito pagka walang imprimatur ni Duterte, ‘yung tatay. And makikita natin doon sa kanyang mga public pronouncements. These are statements meant to agitate, to incite sedition and rebellion, at ‘yun na ‘yun,” the former Senator added.

In response, former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque claimed the words were “hallucinations and a hangover from his coup d’etat days.”

No active Police officials involved in ouster plot- PNP

There are no current police officers participating in the plot, according to PNP spokesman Police Colonel Jean Fajardo.

“Kinausap po natin mismo ang ating chief PNP regarding sa issue kanina maging ang ating intelligence units at wala po tayong namomonitor na sino mang aktibong pulis na involved allegedly dyan sa sinasabing destabilization plot at wala po tayong namomonitor na destabilization plot for that matter,” Fajardo said.

“Ang pakiusap lang natin kay kagalang-galang na dating senador Trillanes please spare the PNP dito sa issue na at naka-focus tayo sa pagtupad ng ating mandato,” the Spokeswoman added.

ICC considers assistance from INTERPOL for arrest warrant vs Duterte, et al.

Trillanes stated that the ICC is considering soliciting the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to carry out the arrest warrant.

“Kung idadaan sa Interpol ‘yung warrant of arrest, kahit na hindi tayo miyembro ng ICC pero miyembro tayo ng Interpol. May international agreement tayo. Ang ICC naman may cooperation agreement kay Interpol kaya pwede silang magpasa ng red notice diyan,” Trillanes added.

The former legislator, a fervent critic of the Duterte administration, stated that a blue Interpol notice may be issued against approximately 50 former and active PNP officials who are among the “persons of interest” in the ICC investigation.

President Ferdinand Marcos jr. previously stated that the Philippines will not assist in the ongoing ICC investigation into Duterte’s drug campaign since the court has no jurisdiction over the country.

Duterte was the mayor of Davao City from 2011 until he was elected President of the Republic in 2016. In March 2019, he ordered the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which founded the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Marcos also saw the ICC as a threat to the country’s sovereignty, emphasizing that any arrest warrant issued by the body would not be implemented in the Philippines.