Ouster plot will fail – Malacañang

Malacañang expressed confidence that any attempts to oust President Duterte will fail due to the overwhelming support that the Chief Executive is getting from the people.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed that there is a plot against President Duterte next month, dubbed as the “Red October.”

In a press briefing, Roque said that the Palace does not doubt the information, especially with the groups of people who are after government positions.

“We have no doubts that the AFP has intelligence information on this, we have no doubts that the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines New People's Army) has been out to overthrow the government since they were founded.

“We have no doubt that there are power hungry individuals in the opposition who would like to resort to extra-constitutional means in putting down the government of President Duterte, and we have no doubts that the Magdalo group are addicted to coup d’etats,” he added.

However, Roque said that these factors will still not be enough for the Duterte administration to be overthrown.

“We are confident that we enjoy overwhelming support from the people, and therefore what these groups would want to see, the ouster of President Duterte, would not happen,” he said.

Roque cited the latest Social Weathers Station (SWS) survey showing that 78 percent of Filipinos approve the administration's campaign against illegal drugs.

“It’s a singular most important issue, it is also the source for most of the criticism against the President, and I’m happy to state that 8 out of 10 Filipinos support the President on the war on drugs. This is an overwhelming support from the Filipino people,” he said.

“It validates the importance of the President has given to the war on drugs, it validates the means by which the President has been implementing the war on drugs. Of course, foreigners don’t agree, but the President does not give a hoot about what foreigners say,” he added.

Roque also did not dismiss the fact that ‘Yellows,’ or members of the opposition, still play a role in the plot to oust Duterte.

“Maraming gahaman sa kanila sa kapangyarihan, hindi makapaghintay ng eleksyon (There are a lot of them who are hungry for power and can't wait for the election),” he said.