Dureza meets with Fil-Am philanthropist tagged in oust Duterte plot

Presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza has met with Filipino-American philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis in the United States amid rumors of an ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte that allegedly involved her.

In a Facebook post, Dureza described his meeting with Lewis as “good” and “warm” and with a “lively animated exchange” about Duterte.

“Ultimately it is the interest of the country that is moving all of us in our individual advocacies. It seems we have arrived at a middle ground after we listened to each other,” he added. 


In her earlier Facebook post, Lewis denied that she wanted Duterte ousted from his post, but admitted to calling for his resignation.

But despite this, Malacañang hinted that she could be behind an ouster plot against the President.

In September, Malacañang warned of a group of Filipino-Americans that it said wanted to see Duterte removed from Malacañang by January 2017.

Lewis was a chief campaigner for Duterte’s rival, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, in the US in the May elections. Roxas placed second in the presidential race.
“He will not sell the Philippines. Duterte is going to do what’s in the interest of the Philippines,” she was quoted as saying then.  —Trisha Macas/KBK, GMA News

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