Rappler, PCIJ, NUPL slam the Manila Times’ matrix story on ‘Oust-Duterte plot’

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally at the Kaamulan Park in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on April 13, 2019. JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

News outfit Rappler, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) on Monday, April 22, slammed an article by the Manila Times about their supposed involvement in the alleged ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte.

In its statement, Rappler said the report, written by the chairman emeritus of the Manila Times, was “an example of how to not write an investigative report — even everyday straight news.”

“The Manila Times under Dante Ang, appointed special envoy for international public relations by President Rodrigo Duterte, is the reason why journalism schools and newsrooms in the country should be actively educating the youth and communities on what truthful, responsible, and ethical journalism is,” it said.

The report cited a “matrix” that showed those who are allegedly involved in the supposed ouster plot against the Chief Executive. As per the matrix, the article named “Bikoy,” who has tagged Presidential son Paolo Duterte and the President’s former aide in the illegal drug trade, as the “source of the black propaganda.” It then goes to  Ellen Tordesillas of Vera Files, whom, the article said, “acts as the nexus and distributor” of the information from alias Bikoy to the PCIJ, Rappler, and the NUPL.

“These organizations, in turn, distribute the false narratives to their respective members,” the article read.

The NUPL, for its part, also condemned the report saying that they are “too busy” defending and promoting human rights to “hogwash accusations.

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“We do not want to shoot the messenger, in a manner of saying, but the writer’s open association to Speaker Gloria Arroyo and President Duterte, among others, say a lot where he is coming from,” it said.

The organization then continued, “Basic it is that for evidence to be credible, it must not only be credible in itself but must also come from a credible source.”

The PCIJ also said the story was “wrong on many points.” It clarified that it never received any e-mail from Tordesillas on the link of alias Bikoy’s “narcolist video,” nor posted any stories or commentaries about it.

“The Manila Times story admits to a crime that may have been committed, and fundamental freedoms that may have been violated. It offers tacit admission that these ‘experts,’ apparently working with the Office of the President, had invaded the privacy of the emails and correspondence of journalists now being singled out,” it stressed.

Tordesillas, meanwhile, denied allegations against her, saying it was “downright false.”

“It’s hilarious. But what I find disturbing is, if this is the kind of intelligence report that the President gets and bases his actions and policies on, the country is in big trouble,” she said.

After the report was published, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo also bared the same matrix to the media, saying that it was Duterte himself who ordered him to release it.

Panelo, however, said he does not know how the Manila Times was able to get a copy of the matrix before he could even bare it to the public, adding that the Office of the President did not give the matrix to the news outfit. Meanwhile, Manila Times’ report did not name its source for the matrix.

“I’m supposed to expose it today, eh naunahan pa ako ng Manila Times (But the Manila Times released it ahead of me),” the Palace official said during the press conference.

A reporter also asked Panelo to explain clearly how the matrix works as it was a bit “confusing.” Responding to this, Panelo said, “I think the article of The Manila Times is clear enough.

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