PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Monday, January 9, 2023, that he has ordered an investigation on possible lapses over the circulation of a memo indicating a destabilization movement in the Armed Forces of the (AFP) as reason for the escalation of alert status of the police organization.

In a press conference in Camp Crame, Azurin reiterated that the reported destabilization plot in the AFP is not true and that the operations of the PNP and AFP are normal, especially as several events such as the Feast of the Black Nazarene and the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, which are expected to draw large crowd, are ongoing.

On Saturday, January 7, the PNP escalated its status to full alert.

In a memo signed by Lieutenant Colonel Dexter Ominga, who is assigned at the Cordillera Police Regional Office, he said the shift to full alert was due to the destabilization movement in the AFP.

“So definitely, the RD (regional director) of PRO Cordillera will be ensuring that an investigation ‘yung si Lieutenant Colonel Dexter is ongoing so that we would determine ano ‘yung kumalat na memorandum nung weekend,” said Azurin.

“Definitely, the appropriate charges, as well as the consequences of the lapses kung meron man will be meted to Colonel Dexter Ominga,” he added.

Azurin said he spoke with newly installed AFP chief of staff Andres Centino and they committed that they will work hand-in-hand to ensure the stability of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (SunStar Philippines)