Lacierda: Grade school matrix does not constitute proof

MANILA, Philippines — Former presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday mocked the latest pronouncements from Malacañang on the supposed involvement of the Liberal Party and its supporters in alleged attempts to destabilize the Duterte administration through the “Bikoy” videos.

Lacierda, who served as spokesman for former president Benigno Aquino III, denied any involvement in the production and dissemination of the video.

He said the “Grade School Matrix does not make an evidence.”

“This government seemed to have discovered a new technology called the Grade School Matrix as this is the third time this government employed a matrix to refute charges against them,” Lacierda said in a statement.

Lacierda said he thinks his name was included in the matrix as he was an active liker of Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano’s posts in Facebook and other social media platforms.

“If that (matrix) is true, this government has all (but) abandoned its sanity,” he said.

Lacierda also found it curious that presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo has distanced himself from the Grade School Matrix.

“In the words of Sir Walter Scott, ‘what a tangled web we weave, if at first we practice to deceive.’ I have no involvement whatsoever with the Bikoy video,” Lacierda said.

Alejano also denied his involvement in the supposed plot.

“I categorically state that I am not involved in the Bikoy videos and have not conspired with anybody to produce such videos. I do not know Bikoy and have not met him ever,” he said.?Alejano said Malacañang has a long history of releasing un-validated information to the public. “They even backtrack or change tune in the middle of the issue. This is an abuse of power without being held liable for the consequences of their irresponsible actions and incompetence,” he said.

Alejano said the new “matrix” Malacañang released “is meant to destroy the image of the opposition before the electorate as what the President has been doing in campaign sorties.”

“Do they feel threatened by us to resort to such ludicrous and cowardly acts? Their allegations are clearly false, malicious and irresponsible. I do not think the Filipino people believe spokesperson Panelo. The opposition, or any other group, does not have to do anything to discredit or destabilize the administration. They are the ones who are destroying themselves. Sadly, the whole nation receives the brunt of their actions,” he added.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the latest accusation against the LP is just a move of the Duterte administration to divert public attention from pressing issues.

For his part, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV advised Panelo not to believe and speak whatever Duterte says.

Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Chel Diokno said the matrix Panelo presented was just “the same joke told over and over again by the Palace.”

Candidate Florin Hilbay also denied getting involved in what he described as “Matrix 2.0.”

Hilbay said Malacañang’s release of the matrix was just a “desperate attempt to undermine the opposition’s groundswell in the coming elections.”

“Unless Panelo can prove the matrix with credible evidence, this is just gossip,” Hilbay said.

Panelo claimed Hilbay and Alejano are among those who have constant online collaboration with Rodel Jayme, who is accused of spreading the controversial “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.

The video features a hooded man identified as “Bikoy,” a self-confessed former member of a drug syndicate, who accused Duterte’s son, former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte, son-in-law Manases Carpio and former aide Christopher Go of being involved in the illegal drug trade.

‘Silly diagrams’

Jayme, the man behind the website that allegedly posted the “Bikoy” videos, denied knowing the personalities in the new ouster plot matrix released by the Palace.

Jayme denied working for Trillanes, Alejano and Hilbay, as alleged by Malacañang in the matrix. 

“There are some lies in the matrix, especially what it was saying that I have direct contact to Alejano, Hilbay and a certain Trillanes. If it were true that I had direct contact, why would I still go through other people to help me clear my name?” Jayme told The STAR.

He also denied knowing Peter Joemel Advincula, who surfaced and claimed to be the hooded figure in the Bikoy video series accusing President Duterte’s family and senatorial candidate Bong Go of benefiting from the drug trade. 

He also called Advincula a liar, after learning that he made the same allegations against former president Aquino.

Jayme said the only person he knows in the matrix is Kristina Elvira, a fellow Liberal Party supporter who also goes by the name Maru Nguyen and Maru Xie, and who was the one who tasked him to create the website, metrobalita.net. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Helen Flores, Janvic Mateo, Marc Jason Cayabyab, Jess Diaz, Artemio Dumlao