Duterte Harry is a bit buzzed out about the reported but unconfirmed U.S. DepState design to chuck him from office.
Although the U.S. Embassy in Manila denied it on December 29, two days after the story broke in the Manila Times, Duterte wants both Potus Obama and Potus-Elect Trump to specifically deny it. While the embassy has denied it, both the White House and Trump Tower have remained silent.
PH stirs talk of U.S. plot vs Duterte ahead of Trump inauguration
MANILA, Philippines (Updated) –
President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies revived talks of a supposed US plot against him, accusing its envoys of being "spies" and demanding a statement from US President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration on January 20.
The US embassy in Manila denied the allegation anew, but Duterte himself is not convinced. “In the sense that I may be looking at it as a possibility, yes," Duterte said in an interview on Thursday, December 29.
"Outgoing US President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump should come with their hands clean and both make a categorical denial of any US government plot to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte," [Philippine Congressman] Castelo said in a statement on Thursday, December 29. “While we respect the denial made by the US embassy in Manila as reported in the media, this matter involves decision at the highest level of the US government — and if such recommendation from former US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg does exist, the Philippines is entitled to know what the US President did or is going to do about it,” Castelo added.
Duterte, in his speeches, has repeatedly dared the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to oust him.
PH stirs talk of U.S. plot vs Duterte ahead of Trump inauguration
Ambassador Goldberg has himself denied such a scheme or anything like it, however, Duterte points to Goldberg's expulsion from Bolivia in 2008 after Pres. Morales accused the GW Bush appointed ambassador Goldberg of involvement to coordinate anti-government protests. Goldberg finished his term as ambassador to the Phils with a daily criticism of Duterte, prompting Dirty Duterte to say the ambassador, who is openly gay, is a "son of a b!tch."
Goldberg spent his final months in Manila dismissing as "absurd" claims that the US would plot against Duterte. The veteran diplomat Goldberg was reacting to an allegation from former President Joseph Estrada, who blamed the US for his ouster in 2001, that Washington also wants Duterte out of office.
Dirty Duterte has also made claims about a plot by Filipino-Americans in the US, a scenario that was dismissed by government security officials because of their lack of capability. Which could make it seem all the more that Duterte might be steadily getting closer to becoming a private citizen again.
The Phils elites in Manila and heavily populated Luzon island with the military will decide Duterte's fate. Duterte will call on his allies in his home province of Mindanao in the rebellious deep south, to include the Marxist New People's Army which as three ministers in Duterte's cabinet.
Duterte's opposition will call on its allies and supporters. Duterte was elected in June with 38% of the vote (no runoff in the Phils).
The woman who could take down Rodrigo Duterte: his soft-spoken, even-tempered vice president
In the Philippines, the president and vice president are often from rival parties, as has been the case in four of the last five administrations. Robredo ran for vice president as the running mate of presidential contender Mar Roxas. Roxas lost, but Robredo won the vice presidency, narrowly beating Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Duterte’s preferred choice. She also became the housing secretary, and thus part of Duterte’s cabinet.
Philippines Vice President Leni Robrigo in her office talking with President Rodrigo Duterte. The two are not political allies.
The latter arrangement came to an end this week. After Duterte barred her from his cabinet meetings—making it impossible for Robredo to do her job, she argued—Robredo resigned as housing secretary.
https://qz.com/856697/the-woman-who...his-soft-spoken-even-tempered-vice-president/
Duterte needs also to stop trying to find scapegoats abroad for the minority and regional only support he gets in the country he rules over.