PRRD ‘not interested’ to file cases vs. groups in matrices

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gestures to the supporters while delivering his speech during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally at the Caraga State University in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte on April 21, 2019. JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte said he has no plans to file cases against personalities and groups conspiring to discredit his family and his administration.

“I’m not interested to file cases,” said Duterte in a campaign rally in Bohol on Wednesday night (May 8).

“I said — I was asked if it was included in the propaganda for… Honestly, do people really believe in Otso Diretso? Diretso kayo sa impiyerno (You go straight to hell). If you vote for them, bahala kayo (It’s up to you),” he added.

Just hours before Duterte’s speech in Bohol, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo bared that members of the Liberal Party, Magdalo group, media outlets, and other LP supporters in the “Oust Duterte” matrix were conspiring to tarnish the President’s reputation and boost their candidates’ chances of winning a seat in the May 13 elections.

Duterte told the crowd that he obtained the information about the plotters from a foreign source he did not name.

“There is an intelligence community but it’s not Filipino,” Duterte said.

The President said he would rather not bother filing cases against the plotters since they are “not worth anything.

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“Just look at them. Look at how dirty they play. It’s very dirty,” Duterte said.

Duterte defended the release of the matrices anew, insisting that it was the right of public to know, especially since some of the names were running for a seat in the Senate.

“I released it because the public are entitled to know. I revealed the names of those seeking public office,” Duterte said.

He also bared that the hooded figure who referred to himself as “Bikoy” in the controversial “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos which tag him, his family, and allies in the illegal drug trade was produced by the Magdalo group, led by opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

“It was a Magdalo production, Trillanes. You’ve heard how he talks. It’s a soldier’s lingo. It’s sarcastic,” Duterte said.

“Well anyway, the truth always comes out,” he added.

Earlier, Panelo alleged that Peter Joemel Advincula, a man claiming to be Bikoy in the videos, was only being used as a “pawn” by the plotters named in the matrices.

Panelo said the Palace will leave it to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to decide whether it will pursue cases against the personalities and groups mentioned in the matrices.