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'LENILEAKS' ISSUE

VP ally Drilon to Palace: Don't fall for fake news 


Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon on Monday advised Malacañang not to fall for reports on social media following its decision to look into the “leaked” emails on the supposed plan of Vice President Leni Robredo’s supporters to oust President Rodrigo Duterte from office.

“My advice to the Executive branch is to exercise extreme care in basing your decisions on social media particularly on alleged plots appearing in social media,” Drilon said in an interview with reporters in Pasay City.

“In the first place, if it is really a credible plot, you will not find it in social media. Isn’t that logical? That if you’re plotting something, why should you place it in social media?” he added.

Drilon, a close ally and party mate of Vice President Robredo in the Liberal Party (LP), said there are “trolls” operating in social media.

“It’s quite unfortunate that such issues are given attention by the Executive branch…It’s a waste of time,” he stressed.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, for his part, said the so-called “Lenileaks” has “not bothered” him.

“It has not bothered me to the point that I have not even read reports about Lenileaks…Nababasa ko lang yung headline but not the details,” Pimentel, a Duterte ally, said.

Pimentel, however, said he understands Malacañang's attitude to have the reports investigated.

“Maybe we can agree with it that all the reports, rumors about destabilization or threats to the administration, should be investigated and seriously treated pero that’s their attitude,” he said.

“I will not blame them for that. I will not criticize them for that,” Pimentel added.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier said President Duterte is aware of moves to unseat him.

Andanar said Malacañang has reached out to the sources of the information and it is already being looked into by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

"Magbibigay ng rekomendasyon si Secretary Esperon kung ano ang nararapat na gawin. Hindi dapat na pangunahan ang rekomendasyon ni Secretary Esperon," he added.

The "Lenileaks" refers to the supposed leaked emails  posted online which allegedly showed exchanges between Filipino-American philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis and her sister, former Commission on Filipinos Overseas chair Imelda "Mely" Nicolas.

Robredo, who resigned as Housing Secretary after being barred by Duterte from attending Cabinet meetings last month, had denied any connection to plans of ousting the President.

"Ako naniniwala ako na hindi makakabuti sa bansa natin na gumawa na naman tayo ng mga 'oust the president' movement," she said during her visit in Lambunao, Iloilo, on Saturday. —KBK, GMA News

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