Magdalo denies hand in supposed Duterte ouster
MANILA, Philippines — Denying its supposed involvement in the ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte, the Magdalo party-list said their alleged involvement in the destabilization is "purely a product of imagination and paranoia" of the administration.
"I categorically deny that the Magdalo is involved in any oust plot against the President," Rep. Gary Alejano said in a statement released Tuesday.
The group stressed that it was only performing its mandate as members of the opposition to fulfill the check and balance system of the government.
Magdalo, a group of forrmer soldiers, continues to respect the Constitution and trusts government institutions despite "being abused right now by certain leaders."
"This is only meant to divert the attention of the people from the present economic woes they themselves have failed to address. If there is someone destabilizing the present government, they should not look beyond themselves for they are ones destabilizing it," Magdalo said.
The group also cited Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's statements that reports of destabilization plots are false.
They also pointed out that they are aware that communists have always been enemies of the state and have always had the objective of removing any sitting president.
"We subscribe to democracy and the Constitution. We will never ally ourselves to the communists who also killed some our mistahs and troops in the past and present," the group said.
Magdalo also criticized Duterte for appointing left-leaning officials to his Cabinet.
"Up to now, they continue to occupy government positions and influence programs, projects and policies. He was also responsible in releasing high-ranking officers of CPP-NPA-NDF who remain at large," Magdalo said.
Former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and former Agrarian Reform Rafael Mariano are among those who have been nominated by the communist group to be part of Duterte's Cabinet. Both, however, have been rejected by the Commission on Appointments.
Liza Maza, former representative of Gabriela Party-list, had resigned as chair of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.
Lorenzana had confirmed that the supposed plot to oust Duterte came from the Communist Party of the Philippines. However, the alleged involvement of pro-Aquino groups and the camp of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has not been verified.
Get the latest updates on alleged ouster plots floated by the Duterte administration.
Vice President Leni Robredo clarifies that she is not among those who are supposedly calling for the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte.
"Hayagan ko pong sinasabi: Hindi ako bahagi ng anumang panawagang bumaba sa puwesto si Pangulong Duterte," Robredo said in a statement.
(I am openly saying: I am not part of any call for President Duterte to step down.)
Robredo said she is only calling on government officials to do their jobs as public servants.
The vice president, however, stressed that the freedom to assemble and freedom of speech are constitutional rights amid a reported mobilization
Sen. Antonio Trillanes debunks ouster claims and says he is ready to present evidence to disprove claims that the "Bikoy videos" were orchestrated by the Liberal Party.
"First and foremost, the objective is to debunk his claim that the opposition or his critics have concocted these allegations using him against the Duterte family and that we paid him money so I brought with me some of the evidence. Also, more importantly, I'll be a showing video later on at a press conference about Mister Bikoy freely ranting about his allegations," Trillanes says in an interview over ANC's "Early Edition."
"There is no ouster plot. All of these things are just an afterthought when he was already in the custody of the police."
"NO OUSTER PLOT." Sen. Antonio Trillanes said he is ready to present evidence, including bank records provided by companions of Peter Joemel Advincula in an alleged drug syndicate, to debunk claims that the "Bikoy videos" were orchestrated by the Liberal Party. #ANCEarlyEdition pic.twitter.com/ax67k0ISen
— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) June 11, 2019
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas denies allegations by "Bikoy" that he was part of a supposed plot to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte and install Vice President Leni Robredo as the country's chief executive.
"On the day and time, December 12, 2018 in the evening, that I allegedly met with some plotters to overthrow the government, I was in the parish church of Orani in Bataan to deliver the homily at the first Mass of a friend newly ordained priest," the priest says in a statement.
"As a mortal being like the rest of us, I have no capacity to be in two places at the same time."
Peter Joemel Advincula, the man claiming to be "Bikoy," identified Villegas, whom he said was present at a meeting on Dec. 12, 2018 at the Jesuit Residence of the ADMU in Quezon City.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo says President Rodrigo Duterte has received intelligence report showing conspiracy among groups to discredit the administration for the purpose of the May 13 polls.
Panelo shows diagram on the alleged conspiracy against the Duterte admin @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/b0N4OasPVC
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) May 8, 2019
The groups allegedly include the Liberal Party, the Magdalo group, media organizations, among others, as presented in the matrix.
Sedition is an archaic law used to silence political critics, former Rep. Erin Tañada (Quezon) says in reaction to the indictment of a website administrator for allegedly sharing anonymous videos alleging the Dutertes are involved in illegal drugs.
"To put it simply, sedition punishes political criticism. In the Philippines, it is a relic of our colonial past. Jose Rizal himself was charged with sedition by Spanish authorities before he was executed. It was also one of the favorite tools used by the Marcos dictatorship to silence critics. It's an age-old strategy that leaders who cannot be honest and transparent to the people always choose," Tañada says in a statement.
He notes that the government seems to have moved quickly to investigate the posting of the videos while progress in other cases has been slow.
Senatorial candidate Erin Tañada criticized the government for prioritizing the prosecution of its critics after the arrest of a person accused of sharing videos critical of the administration.
"Pag maliit na tao ang napatay, taon ang lumilipas pero walang nangyayari. ‘Yung nagbanta sa buhay ng mga obispo at pari hindi pa rin ma-identify. Yung mga akusado sa Ampatuan massacre hanggang ngayon nasa korte pa. Pero pag binatikos mo si Presidente Duterte at pamilya niya, isang buwan lang may arestado na," he says.
(When it is a regular person who is killed, years pass and nothing happens. Those who sent death threats to the bishops and priests are still not identified. The accused in the Ampatuan massacre are still in trial. Bu when you criticize President Duterte and his family, someone is arrested within a month.)
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