Hidilyn Diaz of Philippines celebrates at the podium during the victory ceremony for the women’s 53kg weightlifting event during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 21, 2018. AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Was it an excellent intelligence work or “Bikoy” infiltrated the National Security Agency (NSA)?
This was Senator Panfilo Lacson’s reaction following the inclusion of Filipino Olympian Hidilyn Diaz and television host Gretchen Ho in an ouster matrix released by the Malacañang.
“Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has brought honor to the country while journalist Gretchen Ho has carved out a name for herself in her field, both through discipline and hard work,” Lacson said Thursday in a tweet.
“Their inclusion in the matrix either involved excellent intelligence work or Bikoy had infiltrated NSA,” he added.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has brought honor to the country while journalist Gretchen Ho has carved out a name for herself in her field, both through discipline and hard work. Their inclusion in the matrix either involved excellent intelligence work or Bikoy had infiltrated NSA.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) May 8, 2019
“Bikoy” is the hooded man in “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos that linked President Rodrigo Duterte’s relatives and allies in the illegal drug trade.
Diaz and Ho were among the names in the matrices bared by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo Wednesday, supposedly illustrating a conspiracy to discredit the administration.
READ: LP, Magdalo, media outfits tagged in Duterte ouster plot
But Ho denied being involved in the alleged plot, saying, “Regarding being included in the ‘matrix,’ I don’t even know who Bikoy is, I have never watched the videos nor shared them, and I have no idea who Rodel Jayme is. You can check all of my social media pages. Thanks.”
READ: Gretchen Ho on matrix inclusion: ‘I don’t even know who Bikoy is’
Diaz, on the other hand, was shocked on seeing her name being dragged into the alleged destabilization plot.
“Dami ko pang goals sa life and Pinas para sumali sa ganyan bagay. Nashock lang ako nalink ako sa ganyan,” Diaz said in a reply to a netizen who questioned her inclusion in the matrix. /cbb
READ: Olympic medalist Hidilyn Diaz shocked over inclusion in oust-Duterte matrix