MANILA, Philippines?Malacañang on Saturday shrugged off detained former Brigadier General Danilo Lim's charges implicating former Armed Forces chief General Generoso Senga and Army chief Lieutenant General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. in an alleged 2006 coup plot against President Gloria Macpagal-Arroyo.

Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesperson, ruled out any inquiry into Lim's charges, calling him an ?inveterate coup plotter'' who did not offer fresh evidence to back up his charges.

?Absent any evidence from General Lim?and so it comes down to his word alone versus General Esperon?then of course, there is no reason to initiate further inquiry,'' he said in a text message.

Lim claimed Friday that Senga and Esperon plotted with him to oust Arroyo in February 2006 through a ?non-violent revolt'' but turned around at the last hour following enticements from Arroyo.

Esperon had flatly denied his claims. Senga, now ambassador to Iran, could not be reached for comment.

Lim allegedly planned to call for a withdrawal of support from Arroyo in February 2006, but he was thwarted. He was arrested, relieved as commander of the First Scout Rangers Regiment, and charged.

Olivar said Malacañang would take the word of Esperon, a former Armed Forces chief and Cabinet Secretary, over an ?inveterate coup plotter'' who had also rebelled against then President Corazon Aquino in the 1980s and is now supporting the candidacy of her son, Senator Benigno Aquino III.

?He should try harder to prove to the public and his brothers in uniform that armed extremism is a sin only of the radical Left,'' he said, adding, ?He should realize that good intentions alone are not enough to justify what he did.''

Lim has allied himself with Liberal Party and is running for senator.

In an interview over government-run dzRB, Olivar dared Lim to bring his charges to the proper forum and back them up with solid evidence.

?He's certainly a man who makes his opinions very well known. He's willing to take actions and put himself on the line?. He has a record of sticking his neck out. Perhaps this time he should support this with evidence,'' he said.