MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan dismissed as another diversionary tactic the latest allegation linking the Liberal Party (LP) to a supposed ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte.
Pangilinan is president of the LP and campaign manager of the opposition’s “Otso Diretso” senatorial slate.
“This is the nth time that the administration, when confronted with controversy, falsely accuses the LP of being involved in ouster plots,” the senator said in a text message on Wednesday.
“Gawa gawa lang ‘yan at nililihis ang usapin sa mga akusasyon laban sa administrasyon at mga kaalyado nito,” he added.
Instead of fabricating stories against the LP, Pangilinan said the administration should explain why no drug lords or Customs officials have been arrested despite repeated smuggling of illegal drugs into the country.
“‘Yan ang dapat nilang aksyunan,” he said.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo presented a matrix tagging LP, the Magdalo Group, and other groups allegedly conspiring to oust Duterte.
“The President has received intelligence information that has been validated and appears to show that there is deliberate attempt to discredit this administration, as well as to boost the candidacies of the opposition, senatorial candidates,” Panelo said.
“And it appears that there are certain groups who are working together to achieve this goal. This group appears to be the Liberal Party.
“Some personalities identified as advocates or very active in social media, dishing out anti-Duterte statements and sentiments and validated to be allied with the Liberal Party,” the spokesman added. /je