A coup plot targeting the Philippine President has been revealed.

The Philippine government has warned that those plotting to overthrow President Duterte need to "think carefully" before acting.

The conspiracy of Filipino Americans

IBT Times quoted Philippine Communications Minister Martin Andanar as saying that the Philippine government had received information from Philippine officials currently in the United States that a group of Filipino-Americans living in New York were plotting a coup to overthrow President Duterte in January.

President Duterte is facing a coup attempt from a group of Filipino-Americans. Photo: AP

“I received this information from multiple reliable sources in the United States. It is true that we have the names of those involved in this plot, but we do not wish to reveal them at this time. We will seriously review and investigate this matter,” said Andanar.

"Anyone planning to overthrow President Duterte needs to be very careful about what they intend to do. They need to think very carefully because it is an act contrary to the Constitution," Andanar warned.

Although Mr. Andanar did not reveal the identities of the aforementioned officials, it is not difficult to recognize them as Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay and Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abello, as they are the only two currently present in the United States.

When asked whether President Duterte was aware of the coup plot, Andanar said, "I haven't spoken with the President about this information."

Filipinos still support Duterte.

A few days before Andanar announced the coup plot, Philippine media outlets received several messages urging them to cover a march around the Edsa Monument to the Power of the People calling for Duterte's resignation.

The message read: “Gather together, unite against Duterte. Please join the march around the Edsa Monument to the Power of the People to call for Duterte’s resignation. This will be a key activity in the movement demanding Duterte’s resignation. Please spread this information to everyone.”

Over the past few months, President Duterte has faced intense criticism for his crackdown on drug trafficking in the Philippines, a country severely affected by this problem.

Duterte's political opponents have called for a Plan B to replace him with Vice President Leni Robredo through a vote of no confidence. However, according to many experts, this plan is unlikely to succeed because Duterte still enjoys the trust of 91% of the Filipino people.

Duterte had also previously accused members of the Liberal Party—the ruling party in the Philippines until Duterte became president—of planning this, however, Vice President and Liberal Party chair Leni Robredo denied the accusation.

Is the US also plotting to overthrow Duterte?

Not only does President Duterte face threats from domestic opposition political groups, but he is also considered a "thorn in the side" of the US government. Philippine Congressman Harry Roque of the Kabayan Party has warned of the possibility of a US plot to oust Duterte.

Congressman Harry Roque cited a “controversial” statement directed at U.S. President Barack Obama at the ASEAN Summit in Laos earlier in September, with the “suspiciously coincidental” timing of a witness's unexpected appearance before the Philippine Senate to speak about Duterte’s crackdown on drug traffickers that has left 3,000 people dead.

"The hearing in the Philippine Senate took place shortly after President Duterte affirmed his desire to pursue an independent foreign policy," Roque said.

The witness, allegedly provided by opposition Senator Leila de Lima and named Edgar Matobato, gave detailed testimony about the "Davao assassins" and claimed that President Duterte—then Mayor of Davao—directly commanded this assassin squad and also participated in the killings like them.

Mr. Roque asserted: "It's hard to consider it a coincidence that this hearing took place right after President Duterte declared his independent foreign policy. Clearly, the purpose of this hearing is to pave the way for Duterte's resignation."

Furthermore, Mr. Roque also expressed doubts about the "dubious background" of the US Ambassador to the Philippines, Philip Goldberg: "Remember that Ambassador Goldberg was once expelled from Bolivia for plotting a coup."

Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled him in 2008, declaring Goldberg to be "an unwelcome figure" [a diplomatic term referring to a person whom the host government considers undesirable and does not accept their presence in the country].

According to VOV