There have been lots of questions surrounding the so-called matrix of personalities accused by Malacañang of taking part in a plot to oust Pres. Duterte.
It’s questionable to say the least. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the information came from Duterte himself. Um, okay. The sketchy list (there’s no other way to describe it) includes not only political personalities like senatorial bets Bam Aquino, Gary Alejano, Florin Hilbay, Mar Roxas, opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Communist leader Jose Maria Sison (which is still understandable)—but personalities such as television host Gretchen Ho and Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz too.
Understandably, people are confused about all this—even the personalities themselves. Many of them criticized the Palace for releasing the list “without really going through validation process.”
Gretchen Ho is one of those questioning her name’s appearance on the list, especially since after meeting the President at a dinner just last week. “Hindi ko rin maintindihan. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling. Hindi naman ganu’n kakapal ang mukha ko na kamayan ang presidente tapos meron na pala akong plano to destabilize,” she said. (I don’t understand. I don’t know where the accusations are coming from. I’m not a hypocrite to shake hands with the president and then secretly have plans to destabilize the government.) She additionally pointed out that she is mainly involved in lifestyle and sports, and thus hasn’t produced any report or feature that could be deemed “destabilizing,” or critical of the administration.
Meanwhile, Hidilyn, who’s top 5 of the first qualifiers for the Olympics, posted a video on Facebook addressing the accusation. Surprise, surprise: she was just as confused as the rest of us. “Ha? Anong matrix? Wala akong alam kung anoman ‘yun. At di ko alam kung sino ‘yun, ano nga pangalan nun. Di ko alam kung sino nili-link niyo sa akin,” she said. (What matrix? I don’t know anything about that. I don’t even know the names there.) She also cleared that she is much too focused on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to even “Ako as an athlete, sobrang busy po ako. Wala po akong time para sa anong sinasabi niyo…Ang dami ko pang dapat laruin, ang dami ko pang dapat ayusing technique sa training.” (As an athlete, I don’t have time to do whatever they’re accusing me of. I still have games and there’s still so much I have to focus on in my training.)
She further added, “Sana wag po kayong ganun na idadawit niyo ang pangalan ng isang tao na sobrang busy at sobrang sinasakripisyo ang lahat para sa Pilipinas, ginagawa ang lahat para irepresenta ang Pilipinas sa weightlifting sa Philippine sports and suddenly ilalagay lang ang pangalan sa isang matrix na walang basehan.”
Again, we are just confused about the matrix as all of you. This looks more like some random names Duterte put in his burn book. What do you guys think?
[ABS-CBN]
Photo courtesy of Hidilyn Diaz’ Instagram account
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