THE camp of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday accused the ruling Liberal Party of hatching a black propaganda and psychological war against him.
Peter Laviña, Duterte’s spokesman, said LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II was hurting from a “moribund” campaign.
He said this was the reason why the LP had launched a plot to picture Duterte as a pro-American bet hiding behind the platform of federalism to give US companies easy access to the rich mineral resources of Mindanao—particularly metallic ores.
He described the demolition job as diabolical and a desperate move to resuscitate a “dying” Roxas campaign.
“No amount of money and devilish plot can revive Roxas’ candidacy,” Laviña said.
“This only affirms our conviction that they see Duterte as the strongest candidate with a realistic shot at winning the presidency.”
Laviña said the demolition job against Duterte would only benefit Senator Grace Poe, “who is being groomed as the alternative and secret candidate of Malacañang.”
“The LP will also try to picture Duterte as a coddler of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as well as an ally of the communist-led New People’s Army.”
Duterte’s camp says the LP wants to portray Duterte’s populist image as a mere façade to push for a federal system of government.
“The information came from a staff member of an LP stalwart who was not identified by the source,” Duterte’s camp said.
It said the hatchet job was planned in Western Mindanao where the Liberal Party had diehard members.
The scheme would reportedly roll out next week in time for the final half of the presidential campaign.
According to Laviña, the LP will use allied local government officials to “destroy” Duterte in Mindanao, “where the maverick city mayor is very popular.”