Palace: Unrest in Thailand won’t happen in PHL

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. (Photo by Robert Viñas/Rodolfo Manabat/Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — Malacanang on Sunday assured that amid pork barrel scam controversies involving government officials, the Philippines will not experience the same fate as Thailand.

“We have strong democratic institutions,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said over state run dzRB radio.

Coloma explained that because the government institution is stable and because Filipinos remained vigilant, political unrest could not be seen happening.

“(Filipinos) will not allow abuse from anyone or the prevalence of such disturbance,” the PCOO chief added.

He said that it is the Filipinos’ vigilance that would deter political unrest from occurring.

Thailand’s army declared Martial Law early this week to “keep law and order” after six months of violent unrest and anti-government demonstrations.

This move came one day after Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan refused to resign amid mounting protests.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has meanwhile raised its alert level in Thailand from level 1 to 2.

Under alert level 2, Filipinos in Bangkok and the surrounding areas are instructed to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, and prepare for possible evacuation when necessary.