Drilon dares Palace: Charge LP members plotting vs Duterte

Senator Franklin Drilon INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon dared Malacañang on Wednesday to file charges against Liberal Party (LP) members allegedly plotting with communists to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

In particular, Drilon challenged presidential spokesperson Harry Roque who insisted on Tuesday that some members of the LP were conniving with communist rebels to oust the President.

READ: Palace insists Reds, LP, Trillanes conniving to oust Duterte

“I challenge Malacañang, particularly presidential spokesman Harry Roque to file charges against LP members who are allegedly in cahoots with the communists to overthrow the government,” Drilon said in a statement.

“In fact, I believe it is the responsibility of Malacañang to file the charges now because its credibility is at stake for issuing baseless allegations that are later denied by the military,” he added.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez earlier told a Senate budget hearing that there was no coalition between communist rebels and the LP.

Galvez, however, also said they believed the communists were trying to form a coalition with the opposition and previous government destabilizers to force the President to declare martial law.

READ: AFP clears Trillanes, Pangilinan on ‘Red October’ ouster plot / ‘Red October’ aims to force Duterte to declare martial law – AFP

“General Galvez’s statement in an open hearing that the LP was not involved in any attempt to oust the President should put the issue to rest,” Drilon said.

Drilon said that Roque’s insistence on the allegations shows that he is “merely making up stories to harass the critics of the president and the political opposition.” /cbb