De Lima labeled Government talk of destabilization paranoia

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila De Lima on Monday labeled as “paranoia” the administration’s persistent talk of destabilization moves against it.

In another letter from her detention cell at Camp Crame, De Lima questioned the destabilization talk that government officials regularly refer to and her supposed involvement in these efforts.

“What [destabilization] are they talking about? What ‘triumvirate of plotters’?” De Lima asked.

In recent days, talk about efforts to remove President Rodrigo Duterte have become rife following the filing of an impeachment complaint against him and the video message of Vice President Leni Robredo sent to a United Nations side event in which she severely criticized the government for supposed human rights violations in the conduct of its war on drugs.

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Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said on the day the impeachment charge was filed that these events seemed part of an “outline” to remove the president from power.

“It just seems rather dramatic that everything seems coordinated at this stage with acts of trying to discredit the administration and throw it in doubt,” he said.

The president himself named Sen. Antonio Trillanes, De Lima and Robredo as the people behind the alleged ouster plot against him.

“Who’s behind it? Itong si Trillanes. Sino pa ang isa? Si De Lima na niya akong paalisiin. Pangatlo, si Leni,” Duterte said in a speech at the 16th National Convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Duterte said over the weekend, however, that he now believes Robredo is not involved in any plots.

He told reporters in Bukidnon on Saturday that he and Robredo have talked about the supposed destabilization plots. The president also said that he assured Robredo that he has nothing to do with potential attempts to unseat her.

De Lima said that instead of looking at Duterte’s critics, the administration should look at itself as the source of the reason for its “self-destruction.”

“Stifling criticisms and shunning international condemnation, irrationality of behavior and policies, constant animosity towards the Church, sell-out of our sovereign rights over our maritime domain, and rejection of accountability for the heinous acts of summary killings—these are a clear recipe for self-destruction,” the Liberal Party senator said.

De Lima is detained at the Philippine National Custodial Center following her arrest over allegations that she financially benefitted from the illegal drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

De Lima has questioned the charges against her, saying that all these were politically motivated and were meant to silence her as she was one of the most vocal critics of many of the Duterte government’s policies.

Source : PhilStart