Push Admin

'Poorly sourced' ouster matrix presents conflict of interest: ex-Manila Times editor

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1385994" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>- The Manila Times&#x27; &quot;poorly sourced&quot; story on a supposed plot of veteran journalists to oust President Rodrigo Duterte presented a conflict of interest that might affect the newspaper&#x27;s credibility, the broadsheet&#x27;s former managing editor said Friday.</p><p>Felipe Salvosa II stepped down from his editorial position earlier this week after Manila Times chairman emeritus and Duterte&#x27;s special envoy for international public relations Dante Ang penned a piece about an alleged &quot;Oust Duterte&quot; matrix that tagged several journalists as conspirators seeking to unseat the President.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/17/17/manila-times-chairman-emeritus-named-dutertes-pr-guy">Manila Times chairman emeritus named Duterte’s PR Guy</a></li></ul><p>The matrix was allegedly given to him by a highly-placed source in Malacañang. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo has said the source of the matrix was Duterte himself.</p><p>&quot;When I met the owners, I told them it presented conflicts of interest,&quot; Salvosa told ANC&#x27;s Early edition.</p><p>&quot;Even if it comes from the President, you still need to have it validated. I think it is questionable that Malacanang is confirming something that came from Malacanang in the first place,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;If you&#x27;re going to attack the credibility of a person, you cannot use an anonymous source to do that. I think that is basic.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/22/19/malacaang-claims-journalists-lawyers-behind-oust-duterte-plot">Malacañang claims journalists, lawyers behind ‘Oust Duterte’ plot</a></li></ul><p>When asked if the credibility of the publication took a hit because of the story, Salvosa said: &quot;I would be lying to you if I said na walang ganun.&quot;</p><p>Manila Times President Dante &quot;Klink&quot; Ang II earlier came to his father&#x27;s defense, saying &quot;Dr. Ang’s appointment as special envoy has no line item or office in the government or remuneration of any kind.&quot;</p><p>&quot;He was simply acting on his journalistic instincts having been given an opportunity to write a legitimate story, that was later confirmed by the Palace,&quot; the younger Ang said.</p><p>But Salvosa said the piece also lacked the basic journalistic principle of fairness and balance.</p><p>Ang did not present the sides of those accused, said Salvosa, who also teaches journalism at the University of Santo Tomas.</p><p>&quot;We should have contacted all the names there. If we don&#x27;t have the time to contact each and every name there, then we should not have come out with these names on page one,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;It would be unfair to them to be dragged into this so-called destabilization plot na there is not enough support to make such claims except the say-so of whoever the source was,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;For me it&#x27;s the final straw so I had to leave,&quot; he said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/25/19/manila-times-editor-resigns-over-oust-duterte-matrix">Manila Times editor resigns over &#x27;oust Duterte&#x27; matrix</a></li></ul><div><strong>&#x27;RUNNING STORY&#x27;</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fs1Oo2KpMHc?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Reacting to Salvosa&#x27;s comments, the older Ang maintained his write-up was not poorly sourced, saying the documents came from the Office of the President.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Pag galing sa opisina ng isang pangulo, hindi poorly sourced &#x27;yan. &#x27;Yan ang source mismo. News &#x27;yan, balita &#x27;yan,&quot; he told DZMM Teleradyo&#x27;s &quot;Dos Por Dos.&quot;</p><p>He added he vetted the documents with IT experts and was obliged to publish the story to inform the public.</p><p>&quot;Hindi ko naman binibintang na coup plotters. Nire-report ko lang na nandun sa matrix. Hindi naman coup plotters, I believe they are not,&quot; he said.</p><p>The older Ang also denied the story broke conflict of interest, despite holding a government position.</p><p>&quot;Honorific title lang. Walang suweldo, walang opisina, walang conflict of interest &#x27;yun,&quot; he said.</p><p>He served as the publicist of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 1993 to 2003. He was then appointed as chair of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas in 2005 until 2010.</p><p>He also slammed Salvosa for allegedly putting a spin on the latter&#x27;s resignation on the paper.</p><p>The former managing editor, he said, was unethical for speaking ill against the Times.</p><p>The older Ang claimed that the article was a &quot;running story&quot; and those named in the matrix will be asked to comment in the subsequent stories due to time constraint.</p><p>&quot;It was a running story. Ibig sabihin may follow-up story. Kung may objection siya, siya nag-interview sa mga tao na &#x27;yun. Hindi niya ginawa &#x27;yun eh,&quot; he said.</p><p>Veteran journalists tagged in the matrix discredited the Times story, saying it is &quot;hilarious,&quot; &quot;hogwash,&quot; and &quot;erroneous.&quot;</p>

<p>MANILA (UPDATED) - The Manila Times' "poorly sourced" story on a supposed plot of veteran journalists to oust President Rodrigo Duterte presented a conflict of interest that might affect the newspaper's credibility, the broadsheet's former managing editor said Friday.</p>

MANILA (UPDATED) - The Manila Times' "poorly sourced" story on a supposed plot of veteran journalists to oust President Rodrigo Duterte presented a conflict of interest that might affect the newspaper's credibility, the broadsheet's former managing editor said Friday.