There is no credible plot to remove President Rodrigo Duterte from power, but it does not mean the “Oust Duterte Plot” matrix is false, an official said Wednesday.
Still, the Palace agreed with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s remarks that there was no credible destabilization plot against the President.
On Tuesday, Lorenzana had cast aspersion on the ouster plot matrices recently released by Malacañang, which had tagged local journalists and lawyers as its supporters.
Lorenzana said the destabilization plan needed the military’s support to succeed.
“As for the information from the Palace, maybe they have some information on small groups,” Lorenzana told GMA News.
“But as to a destabilization plot? You would need the military support for such to be credible. As such, we do not see any plot to overthrow the President.”
Sought for comment, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Lorenzana had only meant that the plot would not prosper without military backing.
“What he means is that the plot is not capable of being successful, but that is not to say that there is no plot to oust him,” Panelo told reporters.
“The President said there was a plot by the personalities and groups identified in the matrix, [but] he did not say there is support from the military and the police.”
But the exposure of the plot, which allegedly involved the Liberal Party and the Magdalo group, had hindered the full realization of the destabilization plot, Panelo said.
“In other words, there are no movements in the military and the police to support the plot exposed by the President composed of certain media personalities/outlets and political groups,” Panelo said.
Both the opposition group and the band of former soldiers have since denied involvement in the alleged destabilization plot to oust Duterte.