MANILA -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte has “basis” for accusing Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of conspiring with the Liberal Party (LP) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in a plot to oust him from office by October, Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte had “intelligence information” only he had access to, but refused to give further details.
“Alam n’yo naman ang Presidente, tanging siya lang ang may access sa lahat ng mga impormasyon, kasama na iyong intelligence information (You know the President, it is only him with access to all information, including intelligence information),” Roque said in an interview over DZRH.
Trillanes earlier denied the ouster plot he was allegedly planning by October, the period for filing of the certificates of candidacy for the 2019 midterm elections, saying Duterte was being “paranoid.”
Roque said there was no denying that Duterte’s political opponents were impatient to hold elections in 2022 so that they can be in power again.
“Pag nagsalita ang Presidenteng ganyan, meron pong basehan; at sa akin naman po, hindi makakaila na talagang iyong mga kalaban ng Presidente ay mga hindi maka-antay ng susunod na eleksyon, para makabalik sa kapangyarihan (When the President says something, there’s really basis; and to me, we cannot deny that the President’s political opponents are impatient to hold next elections so they can be in power again),” Roque said.
“Ang tawag ko po sa kanila ay talagang atat na atat na makabalik sa Malacañang na isang katotohanan naman (You call them very eager to be back in Malacañang which is the truth),” he added.
He, however, expressed confidence that the public will stay vigilant and defend the President until he completes the end of his term in 2022.
On Saturday, Duterte said the information on Trillanes’ plot to oust him was supplied by a foreign power, which he did not want to name to protect its identity.
"Trillanes has been sleeping with the enemy (the CPP)," Duterte said in a press briefing during his arrival at the Davao International Airport from his state visits in Israel and Jordan on Saturday.
Duterte said he is not bothered by any ouster plot since he was ready “to step down anytime."
He emphasized that he was elected as President and is only doing his job by serving the people. (PNA)
