Armed with new and more complex diagrams, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on May 8 presented what he claimed this time to be “validated” information on the alleged destabilization plot against the Duterte government. It now lumps together critics and opposition groups with some journalists, among others.
In the expanded matrix, even Olympic silver medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who is also a member of the Philippine Air Force, and ABS-CBN morning show host and former volleyball player Gretchen Ho were linked to the supposed ouster plot. Diaz and Ho have denied the Palace’s claims.
The expanded version was presented even as questions persist about the source of the first, much-criticized matrix the Palace spokesperson presented to the media.
To date, Panelo has revised his story on the source of the matrix at least three times. During his April 22 briefing, Panelo said the source was “the President himself.” Ten days later, he claimed he got the matrix via text message from “somebody” who used an “unknown” number.
The next day, in a DZMM interview, Panelo said while he did not verify the identity of the “unknown” sender, it was “obviously” a staff of the Office of the President.
Watch this video.
Sources:
Presidential Communications Operations Office, Presidential Briefing of the Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo, April 22, 2019
Presidential Communications Operations Office, Presidential Briefing of the Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo, May 2, 2019
Presidential Communications Operations Office, Interview with Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo by Peter Musngi & Pat P. Daza (DZMM – Pasada Sais Trenta), May 3, 2019
DZMM TeleRadyo, Panelo: Hindi ako kumambiyo, May 3, 2019
(Guided by the code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, VERA Files tracks the false claims, flip-flops, misleading statements of public officials and figures, and debunks them with factual evidence. Find out more about this initiative and our methodology.)
