Press Release
September 13, 2018

'No need to overthrow you; God will take care of it,' De Lima tells Duterte

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has slammed Mr. Duterte's paranoia on a fictional ouster plot following his pronouncement that the opposition, together with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), is allegedly plotting to remove him from office.

De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, said that contrary to his oft-repeated accusations hurled against the opposition, no one is out to destroy him but himself.

"Mr. Duterte, it's your filthy and vicious mouth that destroys you. No need to overthrow you. God will take care of it," she said in her latest Dispatch from Crame No. 378.

During a recent press conference after his arrival from his state visits to Israel and Jordan, Duterte named three of his critics purportedly planning to oust him, to wit: the Liberal Party, the CPP, and Opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Duterte reportedly accused the three of working together by bringing up serious questions about his competence and governance, notably, on his administration's obvious inability to arrest the rising prices of basic commodities and graft and corruption.

It was not the first time that Duterte accused opposition figures of allegedly plotting to oust him from his post. Last year, he also accused De Lima, as well as Trillanes and Vice President Leni Robredo, of planning to unseat him.

Hardly warming up his seat since his arrival last week, Duterte unleashed separate attacks on De Lima, Trillanes and Robredo. The three leaders have stood up against Duterte's tirades against them.

De Lima, who has spoken out against the anti-democratic and anti-poor policies of the present administration, said that Duterte's allegation that she was involved in an ouster plot against him was simply a proof of his "paranoia" and "insecurity."

With his administration's lack of governance, gross incompetence and corruption, De Lima maintained that Duterte "will fall, and fall hard. That's for sure."

De Lima is considered by the international community as a prisoner of conscience after she was unjustly and illegal detained by the government for obviously fabricated drug charges to stop her vocal opposition to the President's murderous war on drugs.

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