Alleged destabilization plot by LP probed — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities are looking into the claim of defeated senatorial candidate Greco Belgica that the opposition Liberal Party (LP) is planning to destabilize the Duterte administration, Malacañang said yesterday. 

Speaking to reporters in Manila yesterday, Belgica, a former Manila councilor, said he has received intelligence reports that the LP is financing destabilization and assassination plots against President Duterte. 

He said the LP, the ruling party during the time of former president Benigno Aquino III, wants to install Vice President Leni Robredo to the presidency and is spreading lies to discredit the government. 

“They want to put Leni Robredo in power and evade criminal liabilities. We don’t want that to happen so we should not allow it,” Belgica alleged.

Belgica said Aquino, former budget secretary Florencio Abad, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and former presidential adviser on political affairs Ronald Llamas have been “doing the dirty work, spreading lies and destabilizing the government.”

He alleged that the same people are behind the “relentless efforts and attempts to kill the president, destroy his loved ones, and threaten the lives of those who support him.”   

Asked if he has proof of such information, Belgica only cited “intelligence reports.”  

At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella expressed caution, saying Belgica needs to have “substantial evidence” to back his claim.

Asked if the Palace would investigate Belgica’s claim, Abella said: “As far as we know, matters like these arise every day, almost every day, threats and the like. And so… I’m sure it’s going to be also looked into.”

“Any threat is a cause of concern,” he added. 

Duterte has said that he is ready to step down from his post anytime and that he has no illusions of clinging to power. He has also dared his critics to launch ouster plots against him, claiming he is not happy in his job. – With Edu Punay