Rizal resort raid, not diversionary tactic: Palace

“At bukod pa po diyan ay iyon nga iyong desisyon na mag-angkat na, hindi lang po ng bigas, kung hindi pati po ng manok, ng baboy at ng isda (Aside from that was a decision to import not only rice but chicken, pork and fish),” he said. (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA – A raid by government law enforcers in an alleged safe house of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Rizal province was not a diversionary tactic to shift the public’s attention from high inflation, Malacañang said on Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the raid which is being linked to “Red October” ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte cannot be considered diversionary tactic since the government is already addressing inflation.

“Hindi ho namin kailangan pagtakpan ang problema na hinaharap. So lahat po tayo apektado ng inflation. Kaya nga po gumawa na ng hakbang para mapababa ang mga presyo, at mangyayari na po iyan (We do not need to cover up the problems we are facing. We are all affected by the inflation. That’s why we are taking measures to bring down prices and it will happen),” Roque said in a radio interview.

Last Tuesday, members of the Philippine Army and operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation reportedly raided a farm in Sitio Dalig, Antipolo City, Rizal calling it a successful operation to prevent possible “Red October” action to oust Duterte.

The opposition claimed the alleged ouster move next month was part of the government’s efforts to divert the public attention from inflation.

“So sa amin po, kung walang ginagawa, pwedeng sabihing diversion. Pero ito po, ito naman po ay intelligence galing mismo sa military. Iyan po talaga ang trabaho ng military. At uulitin ko lang: kahit anong banta nila, hindi po sila magtatagumpay. Suportado ng taumbayan ang Pangulo (So for us, if are not doing anything, you can claim it’s a diversion of issue. But this one, it was an intelligence [report that] came from the military. That’s the job of the military. And I repeat: they will not succeed despite their threats. The President has the public’s support),” Roque said.

He said the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA exists to oust government and there is no doubt the communist are behind to destabilize the government.

Roque said some opposition members who cannot wait for the 2022 elections may have conspired with the communists.

To address inflation, Roque said several measures have been implemented including directive to the National Food Authority (NFA) as well as the Department of Trade and Industry to import more rice to boost the buffer stock and eventually bring down the prices.

He said Duterte also signed an administrative order removing non-tariff barriers on agricultural products to “tame price spikes of basic agricultural commodities”.

Under the Administrative Order No. 13, Duterte has allowed the importation of adequate volumes of fish to augment the 17,000 metric tons of fish imports available in the market.

Roque said “food passes” have also been set up to guarantee the fast delivery of food and agricultural products particularly going to Metro Manila.

“At bukod pa po diyan ay iyon nga iyong desisyon na mag-angkat na, hindi lang po ng bigas, kung hindi pati po ng manok, ng baboy at ng isda (Aside from that was a decision to import not only rice but chicken, pork and fish),” he said.

He said even the Philippine Air Force planes are now being used to transport vegetables from Mindanao to Metro Manila to prevent shortage after super typhoon Ompong hit northern Luzon last Sept. 9.

Roque, on the other hand, said the devaluation of the peso was triggered by the trade war between the United States and China, the world’s top two economies.

“Oo, nakakabahala talaga iyan. Talagang parang ang timing eh Murphy’s Law, kapag ka ‘something will go wrong, things will go wrong‘ no at tumaas din ang interest rate sa America (Yes, that’s very alarming. It’s really timing, Murphy’s Law, if something will go wrong, things will go wrong and also US interest rate has gone up),” Roque said.