Security officials reveal destabilization attempt

By Victor Reyes | Date 07-25-2024

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr has bared a destabilization attempt by some groups by releasing a  video hours before the President delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Teodoro said the video, which showed a man sniffing what appeared to be an illegal substance, was fake and was designed to embarrass President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Teodoro added the man on the video was not the president.

“Now, it is clear there is an intense plan to destabilize our government,” Teodoro told journalists after the fake video went viral on social media.

“Now, curiously, on the day of SONA, they came out with a fake video and did it in the US.”

The controversial video was shown during a “Maisug” protest rally in Los Angeles, California, by a group closely identified with former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Teodoro said he would request US law enforcement authorities to investigate and run after the group behind the smear campaign.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos also asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) cybercrime unit to look into the video, which he also said was a fabrication.

“I know the President for a long time now. His features do not resemble him the man on the video,” said Abalos, adding that the president “does not indulge in these kinds of activities.”

Abalos said the video was “malicious,” noting the timing of its release.

“It is so unfair,” he said “He is due to report his accomplishment, and then you are going to release this very malicious video? It is so unfair to the President,” said Abalos.

In a separate statement, National Security deputy director-general Jonathan Malaya condemned the groups behind the fake video.

“We condemn any attempt to destabilize the administration, and we will resist any efforts to weaken our duly constituted democratic institutions,” Malaya said.

Malaya said the “crude attempt” to tarnish the President, using technology and stage management, indicates the “desperation and ulterior motives of those responsible.”

“The calculated attempt to tarnish the President’s reputation and create political instability is deeply concerning and alarming,” he added.