Anti-government forces are supposedly plotting to oust President Duterte by January 2017 based on the latest information obtained by Malacañang.
But the Palace remained confident that no ouster attempt would prosper due to the support of the majority of Filipinos for the President.
“Maraming kuwento eh, mara-ming ispekulasyon eh. But at the same, the surveys will show otherwise. Because ang mga Pilipino naman dito sa Pilipinas ay, like what you said, more than 90 percent supports our President,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a radio interview.
Andanar disclosed that a Cabinet member got wind about the “Oust Digong” plot while on a visit to New York, United States. He said some Filipino-Americans told the Cabinet member about overhearing the scheme to overthrow Duterte in a “teleconference.”
“I was just talking to somebody sa New York ngayon who is also a member of the Cabinet – hindi ko na lang babanggitin iyong pa-ngalan. Iyon din ang mga naririnig niya sa New York, na mayroong mga Filipino-Americans na nagpaplano. They are hatching a plan na to oust the President by January 2017,” he said.
Andanar admitted that a reported ouster plot against the President was no joke but pressed for verification.
“Hindi biro iyong ganyang balibalita pero – but then again, we have to be very careful. Iyon ang mga kuwento,” he said.
Andanar said they have heard about destabilization talk against the President but “at the end of the day, it’s really about the evidence you have.”
“It is the concern for the government, and it should be a concern for the nation because it’s a destabilization talk.
Hindi naman tama iyan, ‘di ba?” he said. “Because we are in a democracy at iniluklok natin ang ating Pangulo sa pamamagitan ng isang eleksyon,” he added.
Earlier, the President accused the “yellow” forces of plotting to impeach him by implicating him in extrajudicial killings in the country. (GENALYN D. KABILING)