THE alleged plot to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte was foiled after a matrix of personalities allegedly involved in the conspiracy was made public, Malacañang said Wednesday, May 29.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the remark in reaction to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's statement that the Defense department has not received information about the supposed ouster plot.
In a television interview on Tuesday, May 28, Lorenzana said his department has not monitored any active scheme to overthrow the President.
Panelo, who previously presented the "Oust Duterte" matrix, said there was "no inconsistency" in the Defense chief's remarks, explaining that the ouster plot was "not credible," since the administration already preempted it.
He added that the plan to oust Duterte did not materialize because it failed to get the support of the military and the police.
"There is no inconsistency on what the [Defense] Secretary said. He said for a plot to oust the President, plotter has to get support of military and police," the Palace official said.
"Since there is no showing in the military intelligence that there there is evidence of recruitment then it is not a credible plot. 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," he added.
Duterte earlier maintained that the so-called "Oust Duterte" matrix, containing the names of those allegedly plotting to unseat him, was real.
The matrix, which allegedly came from a foreign source, linked some members of the Liberal Party, the Magdalo Party-list, and some media groups to the supposed conspiracy against the President.
Panelo said the Chief Executive divulged a "plot by the personalities and groups identified in the matrix," but "did not say that there is support from the military and the police."
"His (Duterte) exposing it to the public has pre-empted the realization of the plot," he said.
"In other words there are no movements in the military and the police to support the plot exposed by the President composed of certain media personalities/outlets and political groups," he added. (SunStar Philippines)