LP senators debunk Duterte claim of ‘yellow’ plot

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. FILE PHOTO

Senators belonging to the Liberal Party on Thursday debunked President Duterte’s allegation of a “yellow” plot to remove him from power, saying that criticism and dissent are part of a democracy and do not imply efforts to oust him.

“The alleged plot is untrue. There is no such plot,” said the LP president, Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

“We are in a democracy, and dissent and rallies should be seen simply as such in a democracy and should not be viewed as part of a so-called larger conspiracy,” Pangilinan said in a series of text messages.

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon wondered where the President was getting his information.

“Nothing to it. It’s not true … There is no such plot. And you know, I don’t know where the President gets his information, but we deny that we are plotting,” Drilon told reporters.

He said attending a rally was part of the freedom to express one’s views, referring to recent protest actions that LP members joined, particularly rallies against the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Assistant Communication Secretary Ana Marie Banaag pointed to the call of Filipino-American businesswoman Loida Nicolas Lewis for Mr. Duterte to step down from office as one of the reasons for his declaration that there was an ouster plot against him.

Lewis had been one of the most active supporters of LP candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo during the May 2016 elections. She has denied that she was part of a coup plot against the President.