Sison’s warning of US-backed coup vs Duterte “wishful thinking,” Palace says

July 8, 2019

Malacanang downplayed on Monday the statement of Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison that President Rodrigo Duterte could be ousted through a United States-backed coup d' etat.

"That’s a wishful thinking coming from a tired, old, failed revolutionary. He has to wake up from a half-century of sleep, it was fifty years," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.

The half-a-century period Panelo was referring was the CPP-New People's Army's armed struggle.

Panelo said Sison was also pitiful because he had to rely on a foreign country to effect a change of leadership in the Philippines.

"It is an admission in fact that their revolution has failed. It’s wishful thinking. Why? Apart from the US will not listen to him - a country which he abhors in the first place, he hates to the bone - Filipinos trust this President. The military and the police love this President," he added.

Sison earlier said US could stage a coup against Duterte after the Philippine leader dared America to "fire the first shot" in the disputed South China Sea. Celerina Monte/DMS