Malacañang has downplayed the warning of communist leader Jose Maria Sison that some pro-America officials in the military were planning to stage a coup d’etat against President Rodrigo Duterte. Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo expressed confidence that soldiers would never overthrow Duterte because they were “100 percent” supportive of their commander in chief. Filipinos — the majority or overwhelming [number] of [them] — they are supportive of the President,” he told reporters. Some of these officers have been talking about a coup,” Sison said in a statement on Saturday. But Panelo shrugged off Sison’s claim, saying the termination of VFA would not prompt military officials to unseat Duterte.

Source: Manila Times February 18, 2020 18:28 UTC