Lakas-CMD stresses 'full support' for Duterte amid adviser's 'conspiracy' comment

The Lakas-CMD party on Saturday said it has "full support" for President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration after an adviser of the Chief Executive made the allegation that several allies were "conspiring" against him.

"The Lakas-CMD and its partners in the UniTeam Alliance have made it clear: we are in full support of President Duterte and his administration," the party said in a statement.

On Friday, Butch Belgica of Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) accused several allies of the administration of "conspiring" against Duterte.

Though he did not mention names, Belgica said these individuals had "undermined" Duterte and did not even consult him.

One of these individuals, Belgica said, was helped by Duterte regarding his father's burial while one was released from detention during Duterte's term in office.

Belgica made the claim a day after Lakas-CMD, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) forged an alliance for Eleksyon 2022, calling their coalition UniTeam, which supports presidential bet Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of the President.

Marcos Jr., whose father former President Ferdinand Marcos was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016 with Duterte's blessing, is with PFP. Mayor Sara is with Lakas-CMD and Hugpong ng Pagbabago. Former senator Jinggoy Estrada is PMP president, and he was allowed to post bail by the Sandiganbayan in September 2017 in his plunder case in connection with the pork barrel scam.

"The greed for power played. They are not able to overcome it," Belgica said. "That's human nature, they forget everything for their own aggrandizement."

"Mr. Butch Belgica of PDDS equates years of public service by former Presidents as greed for power. He might be speaking based on his own experience. Baka iyon lang po kasi ang nagtutulak kay Mr. Belgica para pumasok sa gobyerno. (Maybe that is what pushes Mr. Belgica to enter government service.) Greed," Lakas-CMD said.

"Mr. Belgica should stop sowing intrigues that divide forces loyal to the President. Itigil na po niya ang maruming pulitika (He should stop dirty politics)," it added. —KG, GMA News