Drop Duterte ouster bid, Pimentel tells critics

don’t ambition to oust the President).”

The Constitution provides that the Presi chief said. “You can criticize the president,

Liberal Party (LP) senators on Thursday maintained that the erstwhile ruling party was not involved in any destabilization or ouster plot against the President.

They also denounced alleged efforts to silence dissenters and critics of the government.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, LP president, himself had dismissed reports there was a plot to unseat the President.

“Walang destabilization. Pekeng ouster plot (There’s no destabilization. It’s a fake ouster plot),” he said in a chance interview.

“Naghahanapsilangpantapalpara malihisangatensyonng media atng mamamayansaalingasngasng corruption, drug smuggling ng Davao group at angpalpakna drug war naaraw-arawang patayan (They were looking for issues to deviate media and citizens’ attention from corruption, drug smuggling of the Davao group, the ineffective war on drugs, and killings everyday),” he added.

Instead of exerting effort to persecute or silence dissenters, Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th said the government should allow people to take a stand on issues and air their criticisms without fear of retribution.

“This is no longer healthy for our democracy,” he said.

“Hindikami involved saanumang ouster plot. Angmgaparatangna`yanay gawa-gawalamang (We are not involved in any ouster plot. Those allegations are fabricated),” Aquino told reporters.

Aquino also criticized Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd for branding “yellowtards” as enemies of the State during the launching of a pro-Duterte group. Yellow is the LP color.

“This is political persecution,” he said. “This is anti-democratic and should be opposed and that’s what we are doing,” Pangilinan said.

The minority bloc will continue to work on important matters, like the 2018 national budget and tax reform, Aquino said.