No hidden agenda – Palace
President Duterte just carrying out duty to protect the State
President Duterte has no hidden agenda to consolidate power or cling on to his post, a Palace official said following his recent attacks aimed at Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella explained that the President is merely carrying
out his duty to protect the State from groups seeking to grab power.
Abella gave this assurance after Liberal Party (LP) senators had earlier expressed alarm over the President’s attacks on democratic institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Office of the Ombudsman. They claimed that such “alarming and unproductive” threats on these independent institutions were part of a “veiled attempt of the administration to consolidate power.”
“The President has stated that it is his duty to protect the State from forces who want to seize power from a duly constituted government and subvert the people’s will,” Abella said.
He said the President’s offer to resign was also “a clear statement that he has no intention of clinging on to power.” He said this contradicted the allegations of some opposition senators that “he wants to consolidate power or intimidate independent institutions.”
Abella advised the opposition to be “more circumspect” with its statement.
“There is a world of difference between the President exercising his bounden duty, and the malicious accusation that he has a hidden agenda in doing so,” he said.
The President has announced plans to impeach the Ombudsman, who recently initiated a probe into allegations he has billions in undeclared wealth in bank accounts. Duterte claimed that the Ombudsman must be held liable for alleged selective justice and use of falsified and stolen bank documents.
The President also endorsed the impeachment of Sereno for allegedly failing to declare her true wealth in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. He said Sereno earned a huge amount when hired by the government in an arbitration case over the Manila airport but did not include such earnings in her SALN.
Duterte likewise accused Sereno of allegedly using public funds to bankroll her lavish lifestyle.
Sereno is already facing an impeachment complaint over the same allegations before the House of Representatives.
The impeachment threats came after the Ombudsman refused to back down from an inquiry into the President’s wealth.
Duterte, in the same media interview last Wednesday, claimed that the “yellow” forces have forged an alliance with the Left to oust him from power.
“Gusto nila ako paalisin dito sa Malacañang. O ‘di bigyan mo akong panahon magbalot [They want me removed from Malacañang. Just give me time to pack],” he said.
“But, I will show to the Republic that we have a very serious problem with our government officials,” said Duterte, who has repeatedly offered to resign if critics could prove he has billions in bank accounts.
Duterte had earlier said his wealth would not go beyond 140 million, that includes his inheritance from his parents. LP denies role in ouster plot Meanwhile, the Senate minority bloc on Thursday maintained that the Liberal Party (LP) is not involved in any destabilization or ouster plot against President Duterte.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, also head of the former ruling LP, said it is obvious that the present administration is using the opposition to counter attention on allegations of corruption, drug smuggling, and failed war on drugs tainting the present government.
“There is no destabilization. Defense Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana himself denied there is any ouster plot,” Pangilinan said.
“They are just looking for ways to divert the media and the people’s attention to reports of corruption, drug smuggling of Davao Group and the failed drug war where there is spate of killings every day. It’s a fake ouster plot,” he stressed.
Sen. Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV, on the other hand, criticized the government’s continuing effort to silence dissenters and critics of the government. Instead of exerting efforts to persecute and silence opposition, he said the government should allow people to hold a separate stand on issues and air their criticisms without fear of retribution.
“We are not involved in any ouster plot. Those allegations are just made up,” Aquino told reporters in an interview.
“We see in this country people who oppose are immediately being attacked. In a democracy, those who oppose should not be persecuted,” he stressed.
“This is no longer healthy for our democracy. Sa isang demokrasya, dapat may kakayahan tayong magsabi ng ating saloobin. Dapat pinapayagan na mayroong dissent at oposisyon. Nakikita naman natin na tumututol na rin ang maraming Pilipino sa mga polisiya ng gobyernong ito (In a democracy, we should be given the capability to express our views. We are allowed to dissent and opposition. We can see a lot of Filipinos are now against the policies of this government),” he added.
Aquino, likewise, slammed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for branding the LP “Yellowtards” as one of the enemies of the state during the launching of a group that intends to protect President Duterte’s administration.
“It’s not only secretaries but even the highest officials of the government are giving out allegations that have no basis. This is political persecution. Lantaran na ito,” he said.
Nevertheless, he said the minority will continue to work on important matters crucial to the country, like the 2018 national budget and the tax reform. (With a report from Hannah L. Torregoza)