MALACAÑANG on Monday, December 10, shrugged off the claim of presidential son and former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte that there was a massive opposition conspiracy to topple the current administration and oust President Rodrigo Duterte.
Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was confident that the so-called "Oust Duterte Movement" would not prosper given the support that the Chief Executive is getting from the state security forces and majority of Filipinos.
"Given the popularity rating of the President, no coup or for that matter, conspiracy, will succeed. The PNP (Philippine National Police) and the military are in support of the President, as well as majority of the Filipinos," Panelo said.
Duterte's eldest son posted on social media a list titled "Anti-Administration Group, Oust Duterte Movement," which contains the names of members of opposition Liberal Party, militant groups, members of the press, Catholic prelates, Left-leaning party-list groups, and private firms allegedly working together to remove Duterte from office.
The younger Duterte offered no supporting evidence.
His list contained the names of Vice President Leni Robredo, former Vice President Jejomar Binay Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former chief justice Hilario Davide, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, Senators Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros; and former senator Francisco Tatad, as among those involved in the ouster plot.
Also mentioned in the list were the late prelate Julio Xavier Labayen and Bishops Broderick Pabilo, Leo Drona, Antonio Tobias, Deogracias Iñiguez, Pablo David, and Arturo Santos.
Private companies Jollibee Food Corporation, Dole Philippines, PLDT, Philsaga Mining Corp., General Tuna Corp., and Sumi Philippines Wiring System were also dragged into the supposed ouster movement against Duterte.
Others tagged in the list were retired military officer Victor Corpuz, retired generals "Cunanan" and "Lampe," columnists Randy David and Ducky Paredes, and journalists Maria Ressa, Ellen Torsedillas and Ed Lingao.
In the Palace press briefing, Panelo admitted that the Palace was not privy to the roster of the supposed destabilization movement against the Duterte administration that was released by the President's son.
Panelo, nevertheless, said the presidential son was "competent enough to explain his position on the matter."
"The former vice mayor is a son and all sons will react to any plot, any conspiracy that he perceives to be against the father. So it is his right to react on certain things that he knows that we do not know of," the Palace official said.
Asked if the Palace will verify the accusation of the Duterte's son, Panelo said: "If there is a request from the source, maybe. But, you know, as I said earlier, the Palace will not interfere with anything that concerns matters that he is not privy of."
"And anybody who feels aggrieved, they can always refute the allegations contained in the list. That is the beauty of democracy. As the saying goes, free market of ideas and expressions," Panelo added. (SunStar Philippines)