‘Unlikely names’ put ‘ouster matrix’ in doubt – Lacson

ANOTHER WEB Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo (right) and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar hold up one of several diagrams showing a bigger web of people allegedly involved in a conspiracy to discredit the Duterte administration. —JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — The inclusion of some names in the alleged effort to overthrow the President may have put some doubt on the matrix recently released by Malacañang.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said this during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, where he pointed out that the purported link of some personalities to the supposed conspiracy to topple the current administration seemed “unlikely.”

“Hindi ako bilib sa matrix na pinalabas ni Secretary Panelo. Why? For a simple reason: Hidiliyn Diaz, gem yan. Nakapag-uwi siya ng gold. In fact sa Senate in-honor namin siya. Tapos she has brought honor and pride, prestige to the country. Tapos biglang masasali dun. May time ba yung bata na makialam sa destabilization?” Lacson said.

READ: Olympic medalist Hidilyn Diaz shocked over inclusion in oust-Duterte matrix

“Then Gretchen Ho, ‘di ba? She has started to carve a name for herself sa journalism, sa media. Nasama rin doon. Parang napaka-unlikely. So kung sino man ang nag-prepare nung matrix o yung information na ‘yon, parang kulang sa research,” he added.

READ: Gretchen Ho on matrix inclusion: ‘I don’t even know who Bikoy is’

Lacson said the supposed involvement of Diaz and Ho should have been explained.

“At this point, they will have to explain yung circumstances leading to the alleged involvement of Hidiliyn Diaz and Miss Gretchen Ho,” the senator said.

“Intelligence report yan, dapat medyo accurate. Kung sumablay ka man, yung mga minor details. Pero pagka major detail like naming personalities na alam naman natin na walang capability, walang capacity, hindi kapanipaniwala. Parang it adds up to the doubts that we may have dun sa credibility ng matrix,” he added.

Malacañang earlier tagged groups like the Liberal Party, Magdalo, and certain media entities in a matrix behind alleged efforts to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. /cbb

READ: LP, Magdalo, media outfits tagged in Duterte ouster plot