Several active high-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been recruiting members to join their destabilization plot against President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., according to former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Speaking to reporters in a press conference on Tuesday, Trillanes said even retired military officials are attempting to recruit active soldiers in joing the ouster plot.
"May na-identify na active senior PNP officials na nagrerecruit since last year, pero wala pa silang narerecruit," he said.
Trillanes believes that the ouster plot intends to protect former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it is expected to issue an arrest warrant against him over the drug-related killings under his term.
"Ang pakay sa ouster plot ay para patalsikin ang Presidente . Therefore, sino ang papalit? Vice President na anak n’ya," Trillanes continued.
As of writing, the PNP has yet to comment on the matter.
President Marcos earlier maintained that the Philippines will not cooperate in the ongoing ICC probe into Duterte’s drug war, as the ICC has no jurisdiction over the country.
The Philippines formally cut ties with the ICC on March 17, 2019, a year after the country formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
