Palace exec pooh-poohs ‘oust Duterte plot’ by Fil-Am group

DAVAO CITY – Any destabilization moves to oust President Rodrigo Duterte will be a “cause for concern” for the government  and the nation because it will not help the administration, a Palace official said on Monday.

“If you have all of this news going around internationally, it does not help,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview on dzRH radio.

Andanar was reacting to reports of an alleged plot dubbed as “Oust Digong Movement” which would supposedly be launched in 2017.

He said a Cabinet member, who is currently in New York, told him that some Filipino-Americans want Duterte out by January 2017.

“May kausap po ako kani-kanina lang na kasama ho natin sa Gabinete at kinukuwento nga niya na, meron siyang mga nagre-report sa kanya, kuwento sa New York, may nagre-report din hindi ko na lang babanggitin, may nagre-report sa kanya na merong mga Filipino-Americans na kasama niya doon sa isang pagtitipon at ang kuwento sa kanya ay na-overhear sa isang teleconference na pinag-uusapan na ‘oust Digong,’ hanggang January 2017 na lang,” he said.

Andanar said Malacanang has yet to verify the reports, saying “this does not help” the government.

“Sabi ko naman sa kasama ko, ‘Pare, siguraduhin mo iyan.’ Dahil sabi ko hindi biro iyong ganyang bali-balita, ‘no? Pero—but then again, we have to be very careful. Iyon ang mga kuwento,” he said.

Andanar  decried the  reported destabilization moves and said it was a cause for concern for the government.

“Kung mayroon talaga, you let me know kung mayroon talaga, kasi it is the concern for the government, and it should be a concern for the nation because it’s a destabilization talk. Hindi naman tama iyan, ‘di ba? Because we are in a democracy at iniluklok natin ang ating Pangulo sa pamamagitan ng isang eleksyon,” he said.

The Palace official was confident of the public’s support after Duterte gained a 91 percent trust rating early in his presidency.

Three days before Andanar’s statement, some members of the media received text messages, urging them to attend a rally at the Edsa People Power Monument to call for Duterte’s resignation.

“Let’s converge, let’s unite vs Duterte. Please attend today’s rally at Edsa People Power Monument and let us call for his resignation. This will spearhead by Duterte Resign Movement, Magdalo and other political personalities. Walang alisan dito, tuloy-tuloy tayo. Please pass,” the text message read.