MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa confirmed that alleged coup d’etat plots against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were among the issues discussed in an executive session with national security officials.

“It was taken up,” dela Rosa said in an ambush interview, referring to the coup rumors raised during the session with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the National Security Council (NSC).

In a media report, the senator declined to go into detail, citing confidentiality. “As to the content of their answer, I am not at liberty to tell you because it was an executive session,” he explained. Asked further, he replied: “Ask me some other time, not just here because it is obvious that I shared with you the contents of our discussion in the executive session.”

The closed-door meeting came days after journalist Manny Mogato reported that “rumors [were] swirling of an attempt to unseat” Marcos before the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protest.

The report said a major religious group allegedly met with an Army commander to push for Marcos’ removal and install former president Rodrigo Duterte, a plan the officer reportedly rejected in favor of a 30-member civilian-military junta.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied any coup attempt, but demonstrations led by the United People’s Initiative — a coalition that includes retired soldiers — took place outside military headquarters.

Dela Rosa noted that retired officers joining such protests showed their discontent. “They are angry with what’s happening,” he said. “Aside from being Filipino, they are retired officers that could still have a certain degree of influence in the community.”

The rallies were part of nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects, now under Senate inquiry and a separate probe by an independent commission.

Amid the unrest, Vice President Sara Duterte declared that the Marcos administration was already unstable, claiming “our institutions are clearly abused” and used “for personal gain.”

Asked about her statement, dela Rosa responded briefly: “That’s her opinion.” (INQ)