BY DENNIS GADIL

SEN. Rodolfo Biazon yesterday shot down reports of a new destabilization plot against President Arroyo, saying these were intended to justify an extension of the term of AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

"Is this a drama that is being foisted upon us because of the possibility of an extension of the AFP chief of staff?" said Biazon, chairman of the Senate defense committee and a former AFP chief.

Esperon is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9. He has been publicly making a pitch for an extension of his term, citing the anti-insurgency campaign whose momentum he said should be sustained.

Biazon said no new destabilization plot exists, quoting informants from the military establishment.

"There’s no serious threat. There’s no such thing," he said.

He noted even Esperon himself has not denied fully the report on a supposed new destabilization plot.

"There is a lot of speculation. Meron ba ditong nagpapa-importante by making such statements? At bakit hindi complete ang denial ng chief of staff?" Biazon said. "It’s being downplayed but not (being) fully denied."

The military and the police establishments said Sunday they were validating the reports of a plot to oust the Arroyo administration this month, which was revealed over the weekend by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

The plot, according to Gonzalez, would be carried out between January 17 and 22.

Before Gonzalez’ disclosure, there were also reports that an oust-Arroyo plot would be carried out next month, triggering speculations Esperon’s term would be extended.

Biazon said using the destabilization drama to justify the extension of Esperon’s term would only contribute further instability in the military.

"There is nothing wrong with the extension of Esperon if there is a proper justification according to the Constitution – which include war, widespread rebellion or declaration of a national emergency by the President," Biazon said.

Biazon expressed surprise that the reports on the supposed plot are emanating from the justice department.

"It seems that Secretary Raul Gonzalez has assumed the role of spokesman for security matters in this country. He has always been the one talking about destabilization, coup plots," Biazon said.

Gonzalez talked of the destabilization plot in explaining why he issued an advisory on Friday, which told media practitioners not to interfere in legitimate police and military operations on the pain of sanctions.

Biazon said if there is indeed a new ouster plot, Esperon, Gonzalez, and PNP chief Avelino Razon should arrest those behind it.

"If there is any destabilizer now in the country, it is announcements like these by no less than her (Arroyo’s) trusted lieutenants," Biazon added.

LEFTIST PLOT?

Gonzalez yesterday identified the Left-wing peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas as among those which he said are plotting to destabilize government while a top military official said the communist group is "trying to get in touch with some groups" for a plan to overthrow the Arroyo administration.

However, Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa, chief of the military’s National Capital Region Command, said he was not certain if the communist plan is the same destabilization plan Gonzalez was talking about.

"The CPP-NPA has plans and they have not specifically said it would be on January 22 but their plan really is as early as possible," said Mesa, when asked if the communist plan and the Gonzalez plot are the same.

"Perhaps he might have some other sources. The secretary is in the Cabinet level and there is a security cluster in the Cabinet so they have other sources....It’s not necessarily January 22," he said.

MASS ACTIONS

Gonzalez said based on intelligence report he has received, the overthrow plan would be carried out through a series of mass actions between January 17 to 22.

This would be a mostly civilian uprising with little or no armed movement, he said. The KMP will lead a group that will converge in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform building in Quezon City, he said. Leaders of the protest action, he added, would agitate the public to convince them to join the mass action.

This somewhat innocent form of protest, according to Gonzalez, can destabilize government.

"The intelligence report that I have which has been confirmed by some of these involved groups ... was that the KMP had announced they will have a mass action on the 22nd. I think there was the showing of many graffiti they were preparing, the streamers they were preparing which has the Oust-Gloria theme so that one at least confirmed that there will be," he said.

ALSO DANGEROUS

Gonzalez said other groups from Luzon and individuals would ride on the issue "because these are people with kindred agenda" to oust the President.

He said a simple mass action could be just as dangerous as an armed uprising. He pointed to the May 1, 2001 "siege" of Malacañang in which loyal supporters of deposed President Joseph Estrada marched from Edsa to the Palace to protest Arroyo’s ascension to office.

"Hotheads will be there. There can be communists, pseudo-communists or people who simply want to create trouble. Even people who are known to be well placed in society... I would think these are, you know, Leftists and Rightists (who) have a modus vivendi on the oust-Gloria idea," he said.

Gonzalez said he received similar intelligence information before the supposed power grab attempt by the military in February 2006, but nobody, not even in the Cabinet, took him seriously.

"I had also that intel report which was disregarded by top people in the military but it happened. I appeared like the boy who cried wolf at that time. But it happened," he said.

USUAL SUSPECTS

Mesa said among groups that the communists might be in contact with is that of Marines Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, one of the core leaders of the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.

Faeldon, along with nine other active and former soldiers, escaped after the November 29 standoff at the Manila Peninsula hotel in Makati City.

Told how the communists could get in contact with Faeldon and his group when they are in hiding, Mesa said: "It is possible that Faeldon is with them...We don’t have information to that effect but it is a possibility."

Mesa said the AFP and the PNP have information on the whereabouts of Faeldon but refused to elaborate.

The PNP has offered a P1 million reward for the re-capture of Faeldon, who first escaped in December 2005 and was re-arrested a month later.

A PRELUDE

Mesa said the communist group might take advantage of rallies expected to be held on the 7th year anniversary of "Edsa 2" or Estrada’s ouster on January 19 and 20.

"They might ride on that (celebration) but what I can tell you is we will not allow them to destabilize (government)," Mesa said.

He said the plan of the communists to take advantage of the rallies for the Edsa 2 anniversary could be a prelude to a destabilization move.

"They are really out to do something, the CPP-NPA is really out to do something to destabilize our government," he said.

Razon said Arroyo will finish her term as he said moves to topple government would not materialize because these do not have the support of the people.

"Any coup will hurt our country economically. Ayaw na ng tao ang ganyan. We will only suffer," he said.

Razon also said groups behind destabilization moves time the execution of their plans with mass actions.

Asked why authorities are making public the supposed destabilization plots, Razon said: "We just tell you what’s happening… We are telling you of the threats so they (public) can help prevent these moves."

Razon said curfew might be imposed again, like after the Peninsula standoff, to control the movement of those involved in the plot.

He said checkpoints will be still established in identified areas to control the movement of illegal weapons to be used in the commission of crimes. – With Victor Reyes and Evangeline de Vera