PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he is already aware about the alleged assassination against him, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Thursday, September 1.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) foiled the alleged assassination plot against President Rodrigo Duterte following the arrest of several members of a gun smuggling syndicate.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Roel Obusan said suspects Wilford Palma and his so-called boss Bryan Ta-ala were arrested during the conduct of a police operations against loose firearms last August 6 in Bacolod City.
Confiscated from them was a package box containing smuggled gun parts from the United States with an estimated value of P4.5 million.
Abella said, even as this developed, Duterte has remained unfazed on the alleged assassination threat against him.
Duterte is already aware of such threat ever since he declared his candidacy and eventually won a landslide in the May election.
Abella said that the threat against the President's life is “not new” as Duterte had already expected these before he vowed to crackdown illegal narcotic trade, which clashes high ranking personalities after releasing a long list of people involved in the previous months.
"He seems to be pretty much untouched by all these threats. Not worried. Concerned but not worried," Abella said.
Palma underwent inquest proceedings before the State Prosecutor's Office at the Department of Justice on August 8 while Ta-ala was confined in a hospital in Bacolod over hypertension.
A case was filed against the suspects for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
In a press conference in Camp Crame, Palma admitted being a member of a gun smuggling group where their "number one" customer ordered several gun parts which will allegedly be used for the killing of Duterte.
"Ang sabi sa akin ng boss ko 'yung number one customer namin balak umorder ng lower end gun parts na gagamitin sa assassination ni President Duterte," Palma said.
The items the customer ordered were 100 upper receiving parts, 40 barrel and 30 vault that can form 100 M-16 rifles.
Obusan, however, said the CIDG is still validating the information provided by Palma but he may be considered a witness.
Obusan said 23 personalities, including nine who voluntarily appeared before the CIDG, have already expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation being conducted against the arrested suspects.
The said persons surrendered a total of 15 gun parts composed of seven upper receivers, a butt, a handgrip, two magazine assemblies and four bolt assemblies, all bought from the suspects.
"The modus operandi of the suspects is by using fictitious names and false documents when claiming the packages with the contraband of different firearms component parts which are bought in the US, and shipped to the country through the use of legitimate international cargo forwarders. The items are then sold to gun enthusiasts across the country, which are then shipped to customers using local courier services," said Obusan.
"CIDG investigators-on-case are still looking on the buyers of firearms, components, and/or accessories from a registered gun and ammo dealer stated in Palma’s affidavit, while they are also in the process of contacting the other listed personalities involved in the said transactions for their cooperation," Obusan said.
Duterte has been cognizant of the fact that every day he faces danger, considering that pile of criminals are now being killed and put in jail as a result of the intensified effort of the law enforcers under his administration.
"Like you know if you listen to the President, he eats it for breakfast,” Abella said in a press conference video posted in PTV.
In every speech, Duterte has kept on reiterating that he will put his life, honor and presidency on the line for his campaign, which Abella referred as a “very heroic stand.”
“He really understands that if there's a call for war both in several fronts already war on drugs, war on terrorism and war on crime so he really engages in several wars. He is really aware that his life is constantly under threat,” Abella said.
Abella said the travel of the President will be lessened in some provinces which is more likely known as going on the ground to visit the situation of many Filipinos and soldiers.