LP hits Duterte admin’s ‘pattern’ of evading controversies via smear campaign
The Liberal Party (LP) decried on Wednesday the smear campaign and false accusations against opposition members, saying such tactic was only meant to divert the attention of the public from the controversies hounding the Duterte administration.
“May pattern na ang administrasyong ito pag naiiipit: Nililihis at iniiba ang usapan,” the LP said in a statement.
The latest of which, according to LP, was the allegation against party vice chairman, Senate Minority Franklin Drilon, who has been accused of receiving P5 million during the 2010 presidential election from Janet Lim-Napoles, who was tagged as a main suspect in the so-called pork barrel scam .
“Imbes na magpaliwanag at sagutin ang mga akusasyon ay paninira at pagsisinungaling laban sa mga kritiko ang sinasagot. Pinag-iinitan ang mga hindi sumasang-ayon sa mga polisiya o ginagawa nito,” the LP added.
The LP further cited as example the case of Senator Leila de Lima, who ended up in detention after initiating the Senate probe on alleged extrajudicial killings under the current administration’ and the alleged fake bank accounts hurled at Senator Antonio Trillanes IV after dragging presidential son, resigned Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, into the P6.4 billion shabu shipment controversy.
“At ngayon ito,” the party said, referring to Napoles’ accusation against Drilon.
“Sa mga mahahalagang isyung ito nila tayo nililihis: ang taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, sobra-sobra na ang pagbibigay ng administrasyon sa Tsina (di na lang sa Scarborough at West Philippine Sea kundi pati na rin sa Benham Rise), at pagkasangkot at pakikialam umano ni Presidential Assistant Bong Go sa pagtanggal kay Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado ng Philippine Navy at sa P15.7-bilyong kontrata ukol sa warship (o frigate).”
“Huwag nating tantanan ang mga pang-aabuso sa poder,” the LP added.
Drilon had already denied receiving campaign money from Napoles.
READ: Drilon denies getting P5-M donation from Napoles for 2010 elections
“We have submitted our Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), which are open for public scrutiny. We will not further comment on such obviously fake news intended to harass the opposition,” Drilon said. /kga
