Presidential Political Adviser Secretary Rolando Llamas
MANILA, Philippines – A series of protests calling on President Aquino to step down from office had been staged.
Rumors of coup plot against the administration also spread.
Despite these actions, Presidential Political Adviser Secretary Rolando Llamas said, efforts to oust the chief executive will not succeed because elements to remove the President from office is absent as of this time.
“There are certain conditions when you want to oust the president were people would see that government is already hopeless. Vital institutions of government like the military and the different departments are divided and I greatly doubt that these conditions are present already,” he said.
Llamas said, the President has gone through many criticisms in the past but was able to come back and even got a high approval rating.
“Election is near, practically it is election year already, people will weigh the positive and negative accomplishments of the government and I think they will not set aside the positive achievements, so I doubt if the cry for ouster will prosper,” he added.
Llamas also defended Justice Secretary Leila De Lima’s pronouncement against those calling for support to revolt against the administration.
Llamas said it’s not a threat but just a reminder that there are limitations to the freedom to criticize.
But for former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, who has been vocal in his call for the President to step down, government must not be slack on the matter.
“It’s difficult to predict. Who would think that Erap will be ousted as president. Have you ever thought of that,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales said, despite the past incidents where the President was also criticized, the Mamasapano operation that killed 44 SAF troopers triggered the anger of the nation.
Llamas, however, clarified that the President will address and respond to these issues once investigations on the incident are already concluded. (Victor Cosare / UNTV News)