BY VICTOR REYES  and JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR

THE Armed Forces yesterday maintained the threat against government is real, denying a statement of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon that destabilization plots are being floated to justify an extension of the tour of duty of AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.

"The threat is there but it’s not that serious. It’s nothing that we can’t handle," said Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the Armed Forces public information office.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said anti-Arroyo forces continue with their destabilization activities but the threat now is "not at the level where we feel there should be extra measures to be taken."

He said the threat, which Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has said would materialize between tomorrow and January 22, "is remote as of now."

"It is not a matter for us to be so worried that it can happen at this moment. It is very, very remote as of now," he added.

National security adviser Norberto Gonzales said the destabilization move is a continuing concern that government is "taking seriously." But he said it is still not at an alarming stage.

Gonzales and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the destabilization reports are being validated.

Biazon, chairman of the Senate defense committee, said Monday no new destabilization plot exists, contrary to Gonzalez’ statements.

Biazon, a former Armed Forces chief and Marines commandant, said his information came from military sources. Gonzalez has said he based his statements on intelligence information.

Bacarro said that on the part of the Armed Forces, they believe that destabilization efforts are continuing.

"Definitely, the threat was not imagined by the Armed Forces… there are developments that would lead to the possibility of a destabilization effort... We are not saying that it’s going to happen January, this month, but the effort exists," he said.

Bacarro hinted that the Magdalo group of junior military officers, which staged the Oakwood mutiny in 2003, and communist groups are involved in destabilization efforts. He noted a reported past alliance between the two groups under "Oplan Hackle" which was a supposed plan to overthrow the Arroyo administration in the early part of 2006.

Bacarro said there was no connection between reports on the supposed new destabilization plot and a possible extension of Esperon’s term.

Esperon is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9. He has been publicly making a pitch for an extension.

Biazon has said using the destabilization "drama" to justify Esperon’s term extension would only contribute further instability in the military. He said there was nothing wrong with extending Esperon’s term if it is justified. He said the "proper justification" under the Constitution is "war, widespread rebellion or declaration of a national emergency by the President."

RALLYING POINT

Maj. Gen. (ret.) Ramon Montano said extending Esperon’s term could be considered "stupidity."

"The extension of his tenure will unify the political anti-GMA forces, the Magdalo rebels and the silent AFP/PNP majority in their bid to oust GMA. It will be a rallying point for these forces, to include the Left," he said.

Montano was chief of the now defunct Philippine Constabulary during the Aquino administration which was marked by a number of coups. He was among those who called for the resignation of the President at the height of the "Hello Garci" scandal on alleged cheating by the Arroyo camp in the 2004 presidential elections. Esperon was one of three generals accused of helping the Arroyo government cheat in the polls.

IGNITING PEOPLE’S ANGER

He described as "counter-productive" efforts to float coup or destabilization plots "just to extend" Esperon’s term.

Montano also said that while he is for the end of the Arroyo administration, those who want to employ violent means to oust government should just wait for 2010.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez agreed with Biazon that the administration itself could be behind the destabilization rumors in a bid to justify Esperon’s term extension.

He told government to just focus on the "promotion of the common good" instead of making pronouncements on destabilization threats against it.

Iñiguez, head of the public affairs committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said it would not be long before the public would suspect the administration is up to something "self serving" because of the pronouncements.

Teodoro, after an executive session of Cabinet members called by President Arroyo in Malacañang, belied statements that government was floating the destabilization threats to justify Esperon’s term extension. "The government will not do such a thing just for extending the term of the chief of staff."

He also said it would be "remote" for any destabilization move to succeed. – With Gerard Naval