Lorenzana: Paolo Duterte’s ouster plot list is fake news

Former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte's list of opposition figures, students and businesses that he said were plotting to oust his father President Rodrigo Duterte is false, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday.

“The first time I saw that post, I said, it is fake news,” Lorenzana told reporters during the turnover of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines.

He was referring to Paolo's Facebook post accusing Vice President Leni Robredo, the Makabayan bloc, students from Jesuit-run schools, and private companies including PLDT and Jollibee, of conspiring to topple the President.

The list also included Bishop Julio Labayen, who died before the elder Duterte became President, and a "Bishop Arturo Santos," who does not appear to exist.

“I still maintain [my position] that it is fake news,” Lorenzana added, saying his position on the list will never change.

Paolo, who is running for a seat as a Davao City 1st District representative, has since deleted the post.

Robredo, on the other hand, viewed Paolo’s accusations as an irresponsible joke.

“Baka nagbibiro lang naman iyon. Parang hindi naman seryoso. Baka joke. Kasi balita ko inalis rin naman sa,” she said in an earlier interview.

“Napaka-irresponsible. Walang namang basehan. Pangalawa, hindi ko alam kung alam niya kung saan iyon nanggaling, kasi obviously, iyong gumawa noon, hindi man lang nag-aksaya ng panahon para mag-research. Sana nalaman niya na hindi naman ako pumupunta sa mga lugar na iyon, at iyong mga nakalista hindi ko naman kilala,” Robredo added. — with Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News