Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24) — Amid what he calls as “seemingly sustained attacks” against President Rodrigo Duterte, Senate President Koko Pimentel rallies the PDP-Laban to help defend the President.
Pimentel, who is party president, said on Friday he delivered a clear message to their members during a lecture on Thursday: “We need to help the President, protect the President.”
He told reporters he noticed an apparent increase in efforts to discredit the President.
“Parang wala na siyang ginawang tama. Lahat na ng salita niya, lahat na ng kilos niya, ay dinadaan sa microscope, hinahanapan ng mali,” Pimentel said.
[Translation: “It’s as if he is not doing anything. Everything he says or does are being scrutinized for loopholes.”]
Pimentel said although people are free to criticize Duterte, this right to freedom of speech must not be abused.
“Lahat na lang, sasabihin mali, lahat iti-twist, isusumbong sa international community. For what? Buti sana kung talagang grave substantive issue, hindi lahat ng issue, isusumbong mo sa international community,” Pimentel said.
[Translation: “They find faults in everything, twist facts, complaint to the international community. For what? It’s acceptable if it’s a grave substantive issue, but not all issues deserve to be told to the international community.”]
Also read: Int’l groups continue to protest Duterte’s drug war
Pimentel said he was not aware of the supposed involvement of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, detained Senator Leila de Lima, and Vice President Leni Robredo in efforts to oust the President.
Duterte name-dropped them as three of his staunchest critics who are behind the move to oust him from office.
Trillanes and Robredo had previously denied having a hand in moves to impeach Duterte.
Also read: VP Robredo: I’m not after the presidency
Pimentel also thanked the Liberal Party for saying it is not behind the ouster plot.
He urged the President’s critics to respect the election results that gave an overwhelming 6-million vote advantage to Duterte over his strongest rival, Aquino administration bet Mar Roxas..
Talks about unseating Duterte have been around since late 2016, over supposed extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs, his supposed involvement in summary killings in Davao City when he was mayor, and purported leader of vigilante group Davao Death Squad.
Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte on March 16, just eight months after Duterte assumed the presidency.
Also read: Duterte faces impeachment complaint over killings, corruption
CNN Philippines’ JC Gotinga contributed to this report.
