Television host Gretchen Ho explained the context behind her appearance in a Malacañang dinner after her name was dragged into the latest matrix revealed by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
A Twitter user noticed that Ho’s name was included in the matrix’s zoomed-in version, where she was supposedly linked with Rodel Jayme, the website administrator of Metro Balita.
The user also included a photo of the television host with President Rodrigo Duterte and noticed the contradictory nature of the circumstances.
nasa matrix ng ouster plan si gretchen ho pero nakasama ni duterte magdinner kagabi lmaoooo anuna pic.twitter.com/HR5Jw7YTCs
— migs #23DeGuzman (@miiiiigsssss) May 8, 2019
Ho noticed the irony and tweeted, “So ano ba talaga? Am I trying to OUST or SUPPORT the government?”
So ano ba talaga? 😅 Am I trying to OUST or SUPPORT the government? https://t.co/652H4CPdEA
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) May 8, 2019
The television host claimed in a different tweet that she has never been acquainted with “Bikoy” and has “no idea who Rodel Jayme is.”
Regarding being included in the “matrix”, I don’t even know who Bikoy is, I have never watched the videos nor shared them, and I have no idea who Rodel Jayme is.
You can check all of my social media pages. Thanks.
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) May 8, 2019
She also explained her picture with the chief executive, saying she was one of those invited to have a “private dinner” with Duterte and his common-law wife, Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña, last May 7, Tuesday in the Palace.
We were invited to a “private dinner” in Malacañang. Hindi po sinabi na for “supporters” of the President. I was there to have conversation & decided it would help to know the other side of things. pic.twitter.com/NLpmRMsOKP
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) May 8, 2019
The dinner was attended by local celebrities and famous personalities who have supported him in his presidential campaign or have appeared in political sorties with his former presidential aide Bong Go.
Some of those spotted were Robin Padilla, Mariel Rodriguez, Richard Gomez, Phillip Salvador, John Llyod Cruz, Alex Gonzaga and Ai-Ai delas Alas, among others.
The matrix
Panelo on May 8, Wednesday, shared a matrix that accused the Liberal Party, the Magdalo party-list, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison and media outlets of conspiring to oust Duterte.
It also linked other individuals to Rodel Jayme such as Ellen Tordesillas, Inday Espina Varona, Bong Banal and Gretchen Ho, among others.
The presidential spokesperson said that the matrix was related to the previous one initially published in The Manila Times, although he failed to answer a query on whether the Liberal Party was the one behind the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos or not.
Panelo also shared that he does not have any idea about the identity of the person or group behind the newly-released matrix, claiming that it was just given to him by a certain lawyer named Jenny Ong from the Palace.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan dismissed the allegations anew, calling it completely made-up.
“This is the ninth time that the administration, when confronted with controversy, falsely accuses the LP of being involved in ouster plots. Gawa-gawa lang ‘yan,” he shared.
Rep. Gary Alejano of the Magdalo party-list also denied his supposed involvement and said that he has never met “Bikoy” in the first place.
