Threat to oust Duterte always possible, says Panelo

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Sunday said that the threat to oust President Rodrigo Duterte is always possible because of the opposition and the communist rebels who want to drive the President out of power.

In an interview with Radyo Inquirer, Panelo was asked whether or not he believes the alleged plans to overthrow the President is still solid after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana revealed that the “Red October” ouster plot had melted away.

READ: Lorenzana: ‘Red October’ plot no more

“Alam mo iyong panganib na sa pagtanggal sa presidente palaging nandiyan sapagkat merong opposition eh, siyempre gusto nila tanggalin si Presidente. Nandiyan din ang mga rebeldeng komunista, gusto nilang tanggalin rin ang presidente, so palaging nandiyan iyan (The threat to oust the President is always there because there is the opposition and the communist rebels who want to get rid of the President. So it’s always there),” Panelo said in the interview.

He expressed confidence, however, that the government’s security forces will ensure that the plots to overthrow Duterte will not happen.

“Kahit na nandiyan yan, ay meron naman tayong mga pwersa ng seguridad na papangalagaan at sisiguraduhin na hindi mangyayari yan, sapagkat kung anong nakatakda sa saligang batas, yun ang susundin natin (We have security forces who can neutralize these threats. Our constitution should be followed),” he said.

“And there is no force on earth that will be allowed to violate the constitution, in terms of the president being driven out of office before his term expires,” he added.

The Palace official also noted that the “Red October” ouster plot had dissipated because the administration enjoys the support of the people.

“Well isa lang ibig sabihin niyan. Dahil natuklasan sila earlier e nabulilyaso na ang plano nila (It only means one thing. The ouster plots were discovered early on, so they were aborted),” Panelo said.

“Maliban pa diyan, yung mga tao ay naniniwala sa administrasyong ito at hindi sasama kahit anong gawing panghihikayat o paninira sa administrasyon upang tanggalin sa pwesto si Presidente Duterte, yun lang ng ibig sabihin nun (The people believe in the administration so they are not going to support these moves to overthrow President Duterte),” he added.

In a televised one-on-one interview with Panelo, Duterte said he had evidence to prove that his political opponents, the communists, and the Magdalo group were conspiring to overthrow him. /ee

READ: Duterte: Reds, Magdalo, political rivals plotting to oust me