MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is verifying a list containing the names of personalities alleged to be behind attempts to overthrow President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Online posts have recently surfaced implicating Vice President Sara Duterte, Rep. Paolo Duterte, and former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson as the financiers of a group, which included active and retired military and police officials, said to be behind the destabilization move. “The AFP has already noticed this and has also mentioned names such as Gen. (Romeo) Poquiz, Gen. Orlando de Leon and then Mayor Benjie Magalong, although for confirmation, and others, including Col. (Raymund Dante) Lachica who is allegedly involved in the use of the vice president’s P125 million confidential funds,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said in Filipino in a press conference. She noted that the military is now actively monitoring the situation and has engaged the intelligence community to verify the claim. “Just because something is said on social media doesn’t mean it should be immediately believed. So, they need to validate it,” Castro said. It is now also being determined if legal actions would be taken against those who circulated the online post, the Palace executive said. “They may say this is freedom of expression but we need to investigate how far the boundaries are,” she said. This is not the first time talk of purported attempts to unseat Marcos has been floated. In September, talk was rife about supposed plans to remove the president from Malacañang for his so-called failure to curb corruption in government, particularly the misuse of billions of pesos in anomalous flood control projects. The Palace appealed to critics to not drag the uniformed ranks into politics and insisted there are proper channels to air their grievances. Marcos, on the other hand, said they are “constantly talking to everyone” who may have “any kind of grievance or any kind of complaint” to be able to properly and effectively address them. Denials Vice President Duterte on Tuesday brushed off the allegation made journalist Ramon Tulfo that she was financing a destabilization plot against President Marcos, calling him a rumormonger. Tulfo, in his Facebook post, named Duterte, her elder brother Paolo and Singson as among the financiers of a plot to bring down the Marcos administration. Included in Tulfo’s list are former generals Romeo Poquiz and Orlando de Leon, former Bureau of Corrections director Gerald Bantag, lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Victor Rodriguez, former congressman Michael Defensor and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. In an interview with reporters in Negros Occidental where she is leading the relief efforts of the Office of the Vice President, Duterte said that she does not give any allegations without any solid evidence. “If you have only allegations but you do not have evidence, that is called gossip and you are called a gossiper,” Duterte said in Filipino. On Monday night, Rep. Paolo Duterte described Tulfo as the guy who is “proud of his imagination, it is the only thing working harder than his sense of journalism.” “If this so-called list is his version of insider intelligence, then the only thing that needs confirmation is whether he still knows the difference between fact and fiction,” the congressman said. He also said that the only destabilization happening in the country is his “grip on reality,” noting that the Marcos administration is now in the “final stage of self-destruction.” “Dodong (Brother) Mon, you want attention, you got it. But next time, try using truth instead of testosterone,” Duterte said. Poquiz, one of those tagged in the so-called destabilization plot, also denied that he was involved in such a plot, as their participation in the upcoming Nov. 16 to 18 rally is more against corruption and not in support of a change in power. Magalong on Monday denied rumors linking him to alleged destabilization efforts against the national government. He said the accusations are false and misleading, warning that such claims only harm public trust and national unity. Magalong said he has devoted his entire life to public service as a soldier, police officer, and now a local chief executive, asserting that his loyalty remains with the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino people. He added that in his dialogues with students, business groups, and civic organizations, he consistently promotes lawful and meaningful civic participation that strengthens democracy. He said the real threat to national stability does not come from those calling for accountability but from those who spread baseless accusations “in the guise of journalism,” which divide the people and erode trust in institutions. Magalong reaffirmed his commitment to uphold truth, justice, ethical leadership, and good governance, saying corruption and deception — not responsible dissent — are what truly weaken the nation. No to military intervention The opposition led August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) on Tuesday reiterated its stance to stand behind the Constitution amid the flood control scandal affecting the national government. In a statement on Tuesday, the group said there are “certain factions” staging more aggressive calls and actions in the coming days, but said it opposes any intervention led by the military. “Social media is again alive with rumors. We understand that certain factions will be staging more aggressive calls and actions in the coming days to address this national issue. But we will categorically oppose and denounce any attempts at a military-led intervention. We call on the military to remain faithful to the people and the Constitution. The same 1987 Constitution that our people established after the fall of the dictatorship. The same constitution that you have also defended in multiple coup attempts during the aftermath of the Marcos dictatorship,” ATOM said. The opposition movement, known for its involvement in the 1986 People Power Revolution, said they will not condone attempts to install the likes of Vice President Duterte to replace incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “We will not condone any attempts by certain factions to force and install another leader who has questionable integrity and who has yet to prove her innocence in an impeachment case filed against her months ago, and which the previous Senate, led by her allies, decided to railroad and archive. A clearly unconstitutional move that violated a lot of our laws... Installing a leader who has questionable innocence to crimes that she is accused of, and replacing the current one, who has integrity questions of his own, does not solve the corruption problems. Replacing Marcos with Duterte does not solve anything but only heightens our problems as a nation right now,” the group said. ATOM said the only acceptable resolution people are expecting is to see people go to jail, regardless of their last name. “Marcos and Duterte conspired together, and now you just want to replace a Marcos with a Duterte? A Marcos already replaced a Duterte, and now we’re just going to bring one back? What kind of solution is that? This is unacceptable,” the group said. “The only acceptable resolution that the people expect right now is to see people go to jail, regardless of their last name, whether it’s a Marcos, Romualdez, or Duterte. Whether you’re a president, vice president, or senator. But the current Marcos administration appears to be having a lot of trouble doing this. And the clock of the people’s patience is ticking,” they added. They called on Filipinos to continue to participate in “peaceful anti-corruption mobilizations” until someone goes to jail.