Malacañang shuts down June 12 destabilization plot rumors

National

CLAIMS of a supposed plot to destabilize the government on June 12 have been rejected by Malacañang, which said there is no verified intelligence supporting reports of an alleged attack plan tied to Independence Day events.

The clarification came after a social media post by journalist Ramon Tulfo claimed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) had received intelligence reports of a planned attack on Malacañang on June 12, allegedly involving a religious sect and linked to supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro dismissed the allegations, saying authorities have no validated intelligence confirming any such plot and that the reports remain unverified. She also noted that similar narratives have surfaced before but have not been substantiated by security agencies.

“At this time, we cannot confirm anything about the alleged plans of the destabilizers on June 12. But these are not new because they have always wanted to install their power-hungry master in office even before 2028,” Castro said in a Viber message to reporters, as quoted by Philstar.

Castro also warned against individuals allegedly spreading misinformation and unrest, while emphasizing that law enforcement agencies have been tasked to verify the claims and determine if any illegal activity is involved. She said the Palace is deferring action to investigators.

Castro urged the public to remain vigilant against what she described as “forces of darkness,” while stressing that the Palace is leaving the matter to law enforcement agencies and investigating bodies to handle any potential illegal activities.

The Philippine National Police also said there is no confirmed or validated threat linked to the upcoming Independence Day celebrations, assuring the public that security preparations are already in place.

“We reassure the public that the PNP remains ready, vigilant and fully deployed to ensure the safety and security of All Independence Day celebrations,” PNP spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co said in the same report, after a meeting with top officials at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

In a separate development, church officials denied online allegations involving supposed cash deliveries near a church on Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City.

Cubao Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. refuted claims made by 18 men identifying themselves as former Marines, who alleged that money was delivered near a supposed Society of the Divine Word church in the area. He clarified that no such church exists on Mindanao Avenue and explained that SVD presence in the diocese is limited to specific parishes.

Ayuban clarified that no church under the Society of the Divine Word exists on Mindanao Avenue or anywhere nearby, adding that within the Diocese of Cubao, the SVDs are only present in the Sacred Heart Parish-Shrine in Kamuning, the Sto. Niño de Violago Quasi-Parish, and the Divine Word Shrine along E. Rodriguez Avenue. He also urged the public to exercise caution against misinformation circulating online.

Meanwhile, the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation defended Magsaysay awardee Fr. Flaviano Antonio Villanueva after he was mentioned in allegations raised during a Senate committee hearing, saying the claims are false and categorically denied.(MyTVCebu)