Roxas laughs off Malacañang matrix: Only crazy people believe in crazy things
Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Only crazy people believe in crazy things – like Malacañang’s new destabilization matrix.
Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas issued this remark as he laughed off the administration’s allegations linking him to supposed scheme to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte.
In an ambush interview on Wednesday, Roxas denied any involvement with the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos where a certain “Bikoy” accused President Rodrigo Duterte’s family members as well as long-time aide Bong Go of being involved in the illegal drug trade.
“Natatawa na lang ako sa kanila. Buang lang ang nagapatol sa binuang na bagay, so malinaw na kontra ako sa ilegal na droga,” he told reporters at Otso Diretso’s thanksgiving event at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City.
Roxas also denied previous claims of Peter Joemel Advincula, who showed up at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) headquarters in Ortigas, Pasig City on Monday and identified himself as Bikoy, that he is also involved in illegal drugs.
Senate President Tito Sotto on Wednesday said in a press conference that Advincula had also linked Roxas as well as former President Benigno S. Aquino III, and Senator Leila de Lima, among others, to a drug syndicate in an affidavit submitted to his office in 2016.
READ: Man claiming to be ‘Bikoy’ linked Aquino to drugs – Sotto
“’Yung mga miting na sinasabi ni Bikoy na hindi ko kilala, ay hindi nangyari,” Roxas said.
Earlier Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson and chief presidential counsel Salvador Panelo unveiled four matrices of organizations and personalities that purportedly hatched a plan to oust Duterte.
Among those in the latest matrices produced by Malacañang are the Liberal Party, Tindig Pilipinas, Magdalo Partylist, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Vera Files, Rappler; as well as Otso Diretso candidates Roxas, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, and reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino.
Panelo said information in the matrices were based on an intelligence report.
READ: LP, Magdalo, media outfits tagged in Duterte ouster plot
Roxas’ fellow Otso Diretso senatorial candidates have already denied involvement with any destabilization plots as well as the release of the controversial “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, claiming it was just a desperate attempt to discredit them days before the May 13 midterm elections.
READ: Otso bets: New matrix a ‘desperate’ bid to smear Duterte foes
Prior to the release of an oust-Duterte matrix since April, the administration already accused the opposition of attempting to overthrow the government with military officials claiming LP and Magdalo group were conniving with communist rebels in the “Red October plot” last year. /kga
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