Some Fil-Ams want Duterte out by January 2017 —Andanar

Several Filipino-Americans are reportedly planning to oust President Rodrigo Duterte from office, a Malacañang official said Monday, citing information coming from New York.
In a radio interview, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said a fellow Cabinet member who was in New York was told that some Filipino-Americans want Duterte out by January 2017.
"May kausap po ako kani-kanina lang na kasama ho natin sa Gabinete at kinukuwento nga niya na, meron siyang mga nagre-report sa kanya, kuwento sa New York, may nagre-report din hindi ko na lang babanggitin, may nagre-report sa kanya na merong mga Filipino-Americans na kasama niya doon sa isang pagtitipon at ang kuwento sa kanya ay na-overhear sa isang teleconference na pinag-uusapan na 'oust Digong,' hanggang January 2017 na lang," Andanar said.
"Sabi ko naman sa kasama ko, 'Pare, siguraduhin mo iyan.' Dahil sabi ko hindi biro iyong ganyang bali-balita, 'no? Pero—but then again, we have to be very careful. Iyon ang mga kuwento," he added.
While Andanar said that the ouster seems unlikely given that Duterte received a 91 percent trust rating early in his presidency, he also blamed the media for the kind of news that reaches foreign shores.
"If you have all of this news going around internationally, it does not help. Kasi alam naman natin na mainit ang mga banta doon sa banta sa Amerika – in the western world, 'no? Mainit sa ating bansa ngayon. At medyo agrabyado tayo pagdating sa media exposure," he noted. 
Duterte has been underfire, both locally and internationally, for the extrajudicial killings being linked to his campaign against illegal drugs. He was also criticized heavily for his tirade against US President Barack Obama, who in response canceled a meeting with him during the ASEAN Summit.

Andanar's statement came three days after some members of the press received an invite via text message to converge at EDSA People Power Monument to ask Duterte to step down from office.
"Let's converge, let's unite vs Duterte. Please attend today's rally at Edsa People Power Monument and let us call for his resignation. This will spearhead by Duterte Resign Movement, Magdalo and other political personalities. Walang alisan dito, tuloy-tuloy tayo. Please pass," the text message read.
Meanwhile, Andanar said that the plans to destabilize Duterte’s government are unfair considering the President was elected by the people. He also urged those who knew of such moves to get in touch with him.
"It’s really about the evidence that you have, ‘di ba? Kung mayroon talaga, you let me know kung mayroon talaga, kasi it is the concern for the government, and it should be a concern for the nation because it’s a destabilization talk. Hindi naman tama iyan, ‘di ba? Because we are in a democracy at iniluklok natin ang ating Pangulo sa pamamagitan ng isang eleksyon," he pointed out.  —KBK, GMA News

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