Palace accuses opposition of being impatient as they want Duterte out before term ends

February 5, 2018

Malacanang accused on Monday the opposition of being impatient as they want President Rodrigo Duterte to be out even before his term ends in 2022.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement following the filing of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry on the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the President, including that of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

"I didn't know their plan. What I know is that they could not wait anymore the 2022, that's why they are doing the steps to fast-track (the president's removal from office)," he said.

Roque added the opposition could do whatever they want.

"But the president, as the surveys show has unprecedented approval rating from the people. So they should be careful with their move to remove the President from his position. The people might get angry and they might launch people power against them, not against the President," Roque said.

Asked if the executive department would cooperate with the Senate investigation on Duterte's alleged ill-gotten wealth, Roque said the president was not hiding anything.

"(But) the question, what document has Senator Trillanes have. He doesn't have authenticated documents," he said.

He added the Anti-Money Laundering Council has denied that the documents that Trillanes has did not come from the agency.

"The data that Senator Trillanes has were wrong," he said.

While Duterte was not hiding anything, the Palace has ordered the 90-day suspension of Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang who has been conducting an investigation on the President's alleged ill-gotten wealth. Carandang is also facing administrative charges before the Office of the President. Celerina Monte/DMS