Duterte still enjoys people’s trust—Palace

President Duterte meets villagers in Basilan. FILE PHOTO FROM MALACAÑANG

President Rodrigo Duterte still has the support of the people.

Malacañang issued this statement on Tuesday after a newspaper report claimed former US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg made a “blueprint to undermine” Mr. Duterte’s six-month-old administration.

Ernesto Abella, the President’s spokesperson, said the US State Department had already denied participation in a supposed plot to unseat the President.

READ: US: Duterte sparking distress around the world

“The President continues to enjoy the trust of the people and… (they) apparently appreciate what he’s doing,” Abella told a news briefing.

READ: Duterte’s excellent rating dips

He also pointed out that Goldberg himself purportedly admitted that ousting Mr. Duterte would be “difficult.”

Asked if he agreed with the former US ambassador’s assessment, Abella said: “I don’t have any opinion. I’m just a spokesperson. I don’t need to agree.”

Despite the spiraling drug killings in the country, Mr. Duterte has kept his popularity as he registered “excellent” ratings in recent surveys./rga

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