Palace dismisses prelate's warning on 'destabilizers'

Malacañang on Monday dismissed reports that two groups are planning to replace President Benigno Aquino III, only eight months after elections, due to alleged incompetence. It was retired Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz who mentioned the supposed plan in a television interview earlier in the day. Cruz claimed one of the groups has money and wants to return to power while the other group is composed of ideologues. At least one of the groups has a military component, he added. At a press briefing in Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigal Valte said allegations on Aquino's incompetence "is utterly baseless." "You have seen in the past seven going to eight months that we have started making the first steps to implement reforms. You have the CCT (conditional cash transfer) [that] is in place. We have a very lean budget for 2011 and we intend to keep it that way," she said. Valte said there will always be detractors in every administration. "We believe that we are doing the right thing. We will continue to push for the right thing," she said. In a text message, Billy Esposo, Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA) chairman, said their organization is united in actively supporting Aquino and his reform agenda. "COPA will be in the frontline fighting any group or effort seeking to destabilize the PNoy administration," he said. COPA supported the candidacy of Aquino in the May 2010 elections. — Amita O. Legaspi/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV