MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday cleared Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo from the military’s claim that members of the opposition are brewing a plot to remove President Rodrigo R. Duterte from his office.
“As far as VP Leni is concerned, that’s a fair statement, because as far I know, she was not amongst those specifically named to be part of the conspiracy,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.
According to Roque, Robredo, being the second highest elected official, took an oath to support the Constitution and she should not support any unconstitutional means to remove the President.
Robredo, who is chairperson of the Liberal Party, earlier slammed the alleged ouster plot describing it as “alarming” and “baseless” because it undermined the country’s democracy.
Roque, meanwhile, said despite the vice president’s name being absent from intelligence reports, he could not deny the fact that other members of the opposition are still conspiring to oust the President.
“Hindi n’yo naman po matatanggal na iyong intelligence funds na ginagamit natin nga para sa ganitong paraan ay nagsasabi na meron talagang ilan sa mga Liberal Party na nagpaplano na makipagsabwatan para mapatalsik si Presidente Duterte (You cannot remove the fact that intelligence funds used show us that there are really some members of the Liberal Party conspiring to remove President Duterte),” Roque said.
Roque was unable to name members of the opposition who were part of the ouster plot versus Duterte, but noted that Malacañang is standing by these reports.
“I will find out kung meron pong (if there are some) specifically named doon sa (in the) intel report ng AFP,” Roque said.
“But I think we stand by the intelligence information as gathered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added, noting that these are documents seized from members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Roque, however, reiterated that efforts to oust Duterte will not succeed because of people’s continued trust in the President.
“But again, I stress: gawin n’yo na ang lahat, walang mangyayari diyan, napakalakas po ng suporta ng taumbayan kay Presidente (do everything, nothing is going to happen, because the people’s support for Duterte is very strong),” Roque said.
Earlier, Duterte bared that CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s Magdalo and other groups opposing his presidency, are in “loose conspiracy” to overthrow his administration.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the military is taking all ouster plots “seriously,” noting that after the cancellation of the peace talks, the implementation of the proposed ouster plot became more urgent for the rebels. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
