Duterte denies hand in destabilization

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte is baffled on how his name got dragged into supposed destabilization moves against the government.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. earlier disclosed destabilization moves against the Marcos administration by some retired generals, and there were insinuations that Duterte is behind the moves.

“I really do not know how I was dragged into this,” Duterte said at the Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa program aired early yesterday morning over Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).?

While Duterte admitted talking with some retired generals, he denied plotting destabilization or a coup.

“What I said during our meeting, among others, was as long as there is no serious issue of corruption (there would be no coup),” Duterte said in a mix of English and Tagalog.?“What would bring the government down… is if the people would know that their money is being spent on personal matters.”

Duterte said he might have been misquoted because he does not think there is a serious issue of corruption in government at this time.

He added that he does not see any political turmoil.

“I do not see any in the horizon, however short or long. I don’t think that there are current issues big enough to create another turmoil. The biggest issue that would cause it would be corruption in government that’s rampant, uncontrolled and unabated,” Duterte said.

The former president is also confident that the current administration has corruption under control and that the current President is not corrupt.

“Marcos, I would not say he is corrupt. However, I would not make any categorical statement on the others because I do not have the wherewithals to enter into a discussion about it,” Duterte said.

Moreover, on a scale of 1 to 10, Duterte gave Marcos a passing rate of 6.

“He is performing not exceedingly well, but enough to make the people comfortable,” he added.

The former president also urged Filipinos to support Marcos. “Let us give the President sufficient time to attain his objectives and if he has fallen short, for him to correct it,” Duterte said. “It is still too early, let us give our support to the government.”

Former president and