9 April 22-28, 2021 Groups...
NATIONAL NEWS (From page 1)
But Duterte simply shrugged off the “rumors” coming from the so-called “Viber 500” but admitted he was disheartened by the reports even as officials led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana denied the existence of a group in the military reportedly consisting of 300 retired and active ranking military officials, including allegedly some members of the Cabinet calling for the withdrawal of support for Duterte, their commander in chief. Following the spread of the spread of the ouster rumors, Duterte hardened his stance against China, pointing out that there is a “limit” to the Philippines’ friendship with China, especially when Beijing starts asserting a claim over oil and gas deposits in the disputed West Philippine Sea. Duterte warned China that he would send gray ships to WPS, should it start drilling for oil in the contested waters, adding that exploiting oil and mineral resources in the disputed sea is not part of the Philippines’ agreement with China. In a pre-recorded public address, Duterte said he will state the Philippines’ territorial claim by sending navy ships in the disputed waters. “I am addressing myself to the Chinese government, we want to remain friends, we want to share whatever it is. Sinabi ko naman sa inyo sa (I told you) Chinese government, I’m not so much interested now in fishing. I don’t think there’s enough fish really to quarrel about. But when we start
to mine, when we start to get whatever it is in the bowels of the China sea sa ating oil, diyan na ako (in our oil, that’s when I will act). Then by that time I will send my ships there,” he said. Amid criticism over his supposed silence on Chinese vessels in the contested sea, Duterte said he would not allow China to dig for oil and other resources there. “I will send my gray ships there to state a claim. ‘Yan masiguro ninyo. Pag kinuha na yung oil, kung anong mga nickel diyan, mga precious stones (That you can be sure of. If you start digging for oil, nickel there, precious stones). That would be the time because that is the time that we should act on it,” he added. The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has repeatedly filed diplomatic notes against China over the prolonged presence of Chinese vessels in WPS. On April 14, the DFA lodged a diplomatic note that counts as the daily protest so long as there are Chinese boats in and around Julian Felipe Reef in WPS, and another diplomatic protest on the dispersal of Chinese ships to other parts of Philippine maritime zones. China’s presence in WPS came despite the Philippines’ 2016 historic win against Beijing’s sweeping claims to nearly the entire contested sea. Sobejano, who was even implicated in the alleged plot which he vehemently denied, however, admitted that there are individuals and groups determined and are engaged in efforts to undermine the government. Lorenzana and Sobejano’s statements
prompted Malacañang to state that there is no need for a loyalty check among members of the military amid the ouster plot rumors. “Absolutely wala pong necessity. Sabi ni Presidente kung ayaw sa kanya ng military, uuwi siya ng Davao (Absolutely no necessity. The President said that if the military does not support him anymore, he will fly back to Davao),” he said in a virtual press briefing. In a pre-recorded public address, Duterte admitted that he was “downhearted” when he learned of rumors that a group of military officers have withdrawn their support for him. “I was so -- talagang (really) downhearted ako because I expected the military to perform well…pagka akala ko makatulong ako sa bayan sa Pilipinas (I thought I could be of help to the nation, the Philippines),” he said. The President said he is willing to step down if he no longer has their support, the same statements he echoed when ouster rumors first surfaced in the early years of his term as President. “If we cannot work together with just buy medicines, then maybe we cannot work together on bigger things. So what’s the point? Sinabi ko talaga sa kanila (I really told them). I do not work where I am not needed,” he added. Duterte explained that he told defense and military officials that if they would ask him to resign, he would return to his hometown in Davao City. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte though is “unbothered” by the reports as he believes that the military officers would have ousted him a
long time ago if they believed that he was “useless.” Calls for Duterte’s ouster were first aired in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, Duterte even acknowledged the plot and disclosed a supposed matrix of those who were allegedly behind the plot to discredit him and eventually remove him from office reportedly composed of the opposition, lawyers and even journalists, among others “Hindi po nababahala ang Presidente. Alam po ng Presidente na tapat siya sa Saligang Batas at alam po niya na nirirespeto din ng ating mga kasundaluhan ang ating Saligang Batas. Sabi nga po niya kung talaga siya ay inutil, matagal na siyang pinatalsik ng military,” Roque said in a virtual press briefing. Roque said Duterte is confident that there is no reason for the military to remove him from office. “Alam po niya na kung gugustuhin ng military, kahit sino ay pupuwedeng ipatanggal ng militar, pero kampante po siya na walang dahilan para naman umakto ng ganiyan ang ating kasundaluhan,,” he added. He also dismissed the allegations as “hearsay,” noting that the military knows that now is not the time for politics. “Kuwentong kutsero lang po iyan. Naniniwala po kami na lahat ng ating kasundaluhan ay tapat sa Republika at alam po nila na hindi po talaga panahon para sa pulitika ngayon (That’s just hearsay. We believe that the military is faithful to the Republic and we know that it’s not the time for politics),” he said. Roque said Filipinos have only over a year to wait until they elect new leaders.
