Malacañang told former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, November 26, that attempting to destabilize the government and overthrow President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from his position is a dangerous and selfish move.
The Palace, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, made the remarks after the former President told the military and police earlier this week to protect the Constitution instead of supporting Marcos, whom he accused again of being a drug addict.
“No motive is more selfish than calling for a sitting president to be overthrown so that your daughter can take over,” Bersamin said, referring to Vice President Sara Duterte, who recently admitted that she hired someone to kill Marcos, his wife Liza, and cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“He (former president) will go to great and evil lengths, such as insulting our professional armed forces by asking them to betray their oath, for his plan to succeed,” Bersamin added.
Bersamin also told the former President to respect the Constitution, emphasizing that the former president’s call for a coup was both irresponsible and harmful.
The Executive Secretary added that the current administration is committed to upholding the Constitution and defending the country’s legacy through lawful means.
In a press briefing on Monday evening, November 25, the former President used his signature doublespeak anew as he described the current government as “fractured,” without explicitly advocating for a coup d’état.
“There is a fractured governance in the Philippines today… It is only the military who can correct it,” Duterte said.
“Hanggang kailan kayo mag-suporta ng drug addict na presidente?,” Duterte asked the military, as he further dragged Marcos’ special assistant, Antonio Lagdameo Jr. into the issue.
Duterte also suggested that both Marcos and Lagdameo were involved in the same illegal activity, without providing any concrete proof to back his claims.
The Dutertes’ recent criticisms of the Marcos Jr. administration follow a congressional probe into a corruption scandal involving the Vice President.
The investigation led to several of her staff members being cited for contempt, and her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, was placed under detention by the House.
On Saturday, November 23, an enraged Sara took to social media, expressing her anger by directing insults and threats at Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, accusing them of conspiring against her. (TCSP)
