Editor who questioned 'oust-Duterte' matrix resigns from Manila Times

The Manila Times editor who questioned the publication of a story tagging three media organizations and a lawyers' group to an alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte has resigned from the newspaper.

Felipe Salvosa II announced his resignation from the paper on Thursday via a Facebook post to his friends.

"I have resigned from The Manila Times, effective 24 April 2019," he said. "I would like to thank Klink Ang, president and CEO, for the opportunity."

Salvosa resigned days after the Manila Times published a story, complete with a matrix, linking the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, VERA Files, Rappler, and the National Union People's Lawyers to a supposed plot to oust Duterte from power.

The article was written by Manila Times publisher Dante Ang, citing sources.

PCIJ, VERA Files, Rappler and the NUPL all denied the alleged conspiracy to oust Duterte.

In a statement on the Manila Times Facebook page, however, Klink Ang claimed that Salvosa "did not resign; he was asked to do so."

"He was quoted as such in some reports, but the other publications have twisted the fact to smear the reputation of his former employer," he added.

Klink ang also claimed Salvosa "behaved unethically" when he posted a statement on social media "without first notifying or clarifying with our Chairman Emeritus...the issues that he had with the story."

Sought for comment on Klink Ang's remarks, Salvosa stood by his earlier statement wherein he thanked the newspaper for the opportunity.

"Their statement stands for itself, let the readers judge it," Salvosa told GMA News Online.

"I thank The Times for the opportunity of working for Asia’s oldest English-language daily," he added.

Huge stretch

Salvosa, a journalism professor at the University of Santo Tomas, has questioned Ang's story on Facebook, saying "[a] diagram is by no means an evidence of 'destabilization' or an 'ouster plot'."

In the same post dated April 24, Salvosa also said it "is a very huge stretch for anyone to accuse PCIJ, Vera Files and Rappler of actively plotting to unseat the President."

"I know people in these news organizations and they are not coup plotters," he said. —with Joviland Rita and Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News