Members of the political opposition will never cease to discredit President Duterte until they restore themselves into power, according to a Palace official.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo recognized the tireless efforts of the President’s opponents to seize power after an impeachment complaint was filed against him over alleged corruption and abuse of power.
“Historically, the opposition will not stop until they take over politically. That’s the function of the opposition,” Panelo said in a media interview in Malacañang last Thursday.
“Its purpose is to change the one who wields political power. That’s natural. When you’re down, you want to go up but I don’t think they will succeed,” he added.
The President is facing an impeachment complaint for alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings and having unexplained wealth less than a year into his term. The complaint was filed by Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano who claimed the President should be held liable for crimes he committed.
Panelo expressed confidence the impeachment complaint against the President will not prosper in Congress due to lack of basis. He also dismissed such effort as another black propaganda against the President, saying it will not make a dent on his overwhelming popularity.
Still, Panelo welcomed the impeachment try against Duterte just to show the public “how baseless the claims are against the President.”
“We are confident that the President will be vindicated in the unlikely event that the impeachment complaint is given due process,” he said.
“While this is obviously part of the destabilization campaign of those who resist real change, we nevertheless thank them for finally going to the proper forum.” (Genalyn D. Kabiling)