Matrix presenter Panelo agrees with Lorenzana: No credible ouster plot vs. Duterte

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Wednesday agreed with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that there is no credible ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte.

Panelo gave the reaction after Lorenzana disowned the matrix being peddled by Malacañang as a list of people involved in a supposed attempt to unseat Duterte through  an information campaign that linked the President’s family members and their associates to illegal drugs.

In an interview on GMA News' FYI program with political analyst Richard Heydarian on Tuesday, Lorenzana said a destabilization plot needs recruitment of people from the military, police and local officials.

“As for the information from the Palace, maybe they have some information on small groups. But as to a destabilization plot? You would need the military support for such to be credible. As such, we do not see any plot to overthrow the President,” Lorenzana added.

Panelo said there was “no inconsistency” in Lorenzana’s pronouncements.

“He said for a plot to oust the President plotter has to get support of military and police. Since there is no showing in the military intelligence that there there is evidence of recruitment then it is not a credible plot,” he said.

“What he means is the plot is not capable of being successful, but that is not to say that there is no plot to oust him.”

The Palace official said Duterte disclosed a “plot by the personalities and groups identified in the matrix” but “he did not say that there is support from the military and the police.”

“His exposing it to the public has preempted the realization of the plot,” Panelo said.

Early this month, Panelo released an expanded matrix that tagged the Liberal Party, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairperson Jose Maria Sison, journalists, media organizations and the Magdalo party-list in alleged efforts to discredit the administration and boost the candidacies of opposition senatorial bets.

The personalities named in the matrix have denied being a part of a conspiracy to remove Duterte from office and challenged Malacañang to prove the allegations. —JST, GMA News