Army and police officials in Negros yesterday assured that there are no coup rumblings among their troops who, they said, remain loyal to civilian rule.

At the Senate hearing yesterday on the botched Mamasapano operation that left 44 Special Action Force commandos dead, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said she received information that "leaders of certain alphabet soup acronym groups" are plotting a coup against President Aquino.

The plot is being financed by a "very rich man" who is known to the public, she said.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin confirmed receiving the reports of a possible coup plot, but said the information is still being verified.

Col. Jon Aying, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said he only heard of an alleged coup plot through the media, but not in the field among his troops.

“I am very confident that, here in Negros, our officers and men are professionals who recognize that civilian authority remains supreme over the military at all times,” Aying said.

He said they leave it to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government to resolve the quest for justice for the deaths at Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“We sympathize with the families of those who died at Mamasapano - not only for the Fallen 44 but also for those from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters,” he said.

“We have to understand all sides,” he said.

“To our troops in Negros Occidental and Oriental, let us remain dedicated to our day-to-day work. Whatever happened in Mamasapano, we should just wait for the results of the investigations that are being conducted,” he said.

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, Negros Occidental police director, yesterday also said there were no talks of a coup among his men.*CPG

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