Gretchen Ho explains presence at Palace dinner and new ‘matrix’

May 9, 2019 - 3:01 PM
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Gretchen Ho giving a thumbs up
Gretchen Ho giving a thumbs up while in Mariveles, Bataan. (Instagram/gretchenho)

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.

Ho noticed the irony and tweeted, “So ano ba talaga? Am I trying to OUST or SUPPORT the government?”

The television host claimed in a different tweet that she has never been acquainted with “Bikoy” and has “no idea who Rodel Jayme is.”

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.

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.