The Philippine National Police has disspelled allegations that television personality Gretchen Ho and Olympic weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz were part of an alleged ouster plot against President Duterte.
“Sa ngayon, base sa record check wala tayong nakikitang nag-uugnay… walang ebidensya na si Hidilyn Diaz at Gretchen Ho ay kasama sa magtatangkang magpapaalis sa pamahalaan,” said Police Col. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson.
However, he said “continuous” monitoring and intelligence gathering are being conducted by their operatives to verify the participation of all of the personalities involved in the latest matrix released by the Malacanang earlier this week.
“Mandato ng PNP na alamin o tignan ang information na maaring nag-uugnay sa kanila pero sa ngayon wala naman kaming nakikita. Patuloy ang investigation na ginagawa,” Banac noted.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo released a matrix last Wednesday which showed personalities and groups that are allegedly conniving to discredit the government and oust Duterte.
The personalities included in the matrix were also accused of working with alias “Bikoy,” the man in the “Ang Totoong Narco-list” videos which linked Duterte’s kin and close allies to the illegal drugs trade.
Among the personalities in the matrix were Ho and Diaz, who both denied their involvement in the alleged “Oust Duterte” plot, the Liberal Party, Magdalo, and communist leader Jose Maria Sison.
Two days later, Panelo had a change of heart and cleared Ho and Diaz in the conspiracy. He claimed they were only included in the diagram to reveal the online activities of Rodel Jayme, the man who owns the website where the Ang Totoong Narco-list videos were uploaded.
Banac said the PNP has no input in the latest matrix released by Malacanang. “Itong huling matrix, wala kaming naibigay na contribution. Bago nito, ‘yong huli ay undergoing validation pa so hindi pa tayo tapos,” Banac said. (Martin A. Sadongdong)
