Palace: US denies taking part in moves to oust Duterte

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte meets with Ambassadors Philip Goldberg of the United States. FILE PHOTO

The US State Department has denied its participation in any destabilization moves against President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

“We have not received any news from the [US] State Department apparently. As far I know, as far as I have been informed, the State Department has denied anything of this sort, and has denied participation of anything of this sort,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters in a Palace briefing.

Abella issued the statement amid a newspaper report stating that former United States (US) Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg outlined “strategies” for the ouster of Duterte.

READ: Goldberg: CIA plot to oust, kill Duterte ‘not true’
The Palace official downplayed the alleged destabilization, saying Duterte still enjoyed the trust of the people.

“As we can see, you know, the President continues to enjoy the trust of the people and the people on the ground apparently appreciate what he’s doing. So again let me just say that, according to the article, the people plotting to oust the President will find it difficult,” he said.

Duterte and Goldberg had figured in a word war after the US envoy criticized him over his joke about the 1989 rape of an Australian missionary during the campaign season.

The President said it was unbecoming of the envoy to dip his fingers in internal issues such as the May 2016 elections. He even called Goldberg “gay.” JE

RELATED STORIES

Duterte on calling Goldberg gay: Why should I apologize?

Goldberg on Duterte’s latest gay slur: I’m a diplomat; no comment