RP president accuses Ramos allies of destabilization plots
RP president accuses Ramos allies of destabilization plots
MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Joseph Estrada on Wednesday accused figures linked to his predecessor Fidel Ramos of being behind a plot to "topple and destabilize my administration."
"Information has reached me that it is not just meetings but even funding and other intrigues (are taking place) in order to topple and destabilize my administration," Estrada said in a radio interview.
Government officials have charged in the past that a group which it did not identify was holding secret meetings to concoct propaganda against the Estrada administration.
Asked about reports that figures associated with the Ramos administration were behind this, Estrada said "it looks like it." Estrada added: "I suspect that this is to cover up the billions that were lost from our state coffers during the last administration."
He repeated accusations that Ramos and his men were involved in diversion of funds and irregular deals. Ramos has rejected any wrongdoing.
Asked how he would counter such a plot, Estrada said his advisers told him "there is nothing to worry about especially since the running of the government is transparent and our economy is slowly improving."
Estrada did not specifically link Ramos to the alleged plot nor did he identify the supposed Ramos men who were involved.
It was the latest salvo in the brewing war between Estrada and Ramos, who earlier this week, criticized Estrada for indecisiveness which he blamed for the economy's sluggish recovery.
The criticism followed a nationwide survey which showed that Estrada's popularity rating plunged 22 percentage points to 56 percent in the three months to September.
It also came after a committee created by Estrada recommended last week that Ramos be fined six months' salary for failing to prevent diversion of state funds towards infrastructure and other projects to mark last year's centennial of Filipino rebels' declaration of independence from Spanish rule.
Ramos has rejected the committee's findings, saying it had no jurisdiction over private citizens.