President Duterte challenges Philippine military to stage coup

"I will let them try. If they want another president, fine," Mr. Duterte said of the military in an interview with legal advisers and broadcast on national television.

According toNikkei Asian ReviewThe Philippine military, which has a history of influencing politics, has denied allegations of a plot to overthrow the president. However, suspicions of an opposition plan to oust the president have lingered as the public reacted to the president's arrest of Senator Antonio Trillanes, one of Duterte's most vocal critics.

The president has invalidated the previous administration's amnesty for Mr Trillanes in connection with a failed coup attempt a decade ago.

"I encourage you to go see Trillanes. Go see them and do a coup or a revolution or whatever. Go ahead," President Duterte declared. "Frankly, I hope you get it done."

The arrest warrant prompted Trillanes to intensify his criticism of President Duterte, who has barricaded himself in the Senate building to avoid arrest. Trillanes also said that some military officials had provided him with documents that could be used to fight the warrant and that the president does not control the military. On September 11, the Philippine Supreme Court rejected the senator's request to overturn the arrest warrant.

General Carlito Galvez, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, insisted that there was no plot to revolt. Mr. Galvez said the military was always loyal to the constitution and obeyed the commander-in-chief.

"While I am aware that soldiers have their own views on many issues, that is only a sign of an intelligent and mature force like the Armed Forces of the Philippines. But we always put the interest of the organization and the country above ourselves," he said last week.

Since 1986, the Philippine military has been a major political force, helping to topple at least two presidents. That year, the people’s revolution that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos was also triggered when the defense secretary and the army’s deputy chief of staff withdrew their support for the president. The military’s refusal to support it also played a major role in former president Joseph Estrada’s decision to resign in 2001, amid corruption allegations.

Mr Trillanes led a failed coup against President Gloria Arroyo in 2003, then another failed attempt in 2007.

Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Philippine Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, said Mr. Duterte's statement was aimed at preventing any move by the military against him.

“You can’t take it lightly,” he said. “It’s a situation that’s always at risk.”

Phuong Thao