THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will verify the alleged involvement of several journalists in the reported plot to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Yes, of course (we will investigate). Kung nilabas yan galing from the Office of the President although we have not gotten a specific instruction or directive coming from the Office of the President yet to conduct investigation, wala pa po kaming natanggap ng memorandum as of this time or a directive as of this
time to investigate,” PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Tuesday, April 23.
“What we do is just like what we do sa mga nakukuha nating information - we conduct validation so that anytime na hingan kami ng comment namin or information coming from us we can give them information ng mabilis. At least naka-prepare na kami, hindi ‘yung hintayin pa namin utusan kami,” he added.
(We will investigate and validate even if we have not received a directive so that anytime we will be asked for information or comment, we are prepared.)
Albayalde said the Directorate for Intelligence and Detective Management (DIMD and the Directorate for Intelligence will spearhead the investigation.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday, April 22, confirmed that an association matrix published in a newspaper, which shows the link between “Bikoy” and several journalists, came from President Duterte himself.
The matrix identified Vera Files president Ellen Tordesillas and Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa as well as the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) among those involved in the alleged ouster plot against Duterte.
"Bikoy" was the hooded man in four video clips who claimed to be a former member of a drug syndicate and tagged members of the Duterte family and senatorial aspirant Christopher "Bong" Go as among those allegedly receiving payouts. (SunStar Philippines)