Manila Times says managing editor ”was asked” to quit

April 25, 2019

The Manila Times hit back at its former managing editor Felipe Salvosa II saying he acted "unethically."

In a statement by the Manila Times at the Facebook page of its president and chief executive officer Dante Ang II on Thursday, Ang explained that Salvosa, who said he quit due to the "matrix" published last Monday, "was asked to do so."

"He behaved unethically when he posted a statement on social media without first notifying or clarifying with our Chairman Emeritus, Dr. Dante A. Ang, the issues that he had with the story "Oust-Duterte plot bared," written by the owner himself," the statement read. 

Salvosa posted on his Twitter account on Monday: "A diagram is by no means an evidence of 'destabilization' or an 'ouster plot.' It is a very huge stretch for anyone to accuse PCIJ, Vera Files and Rappler of actively plotting to unseat the President. I know people there and they are not coup plotters."

The Manila Times clarified that it has "a long-standing open-door policy" in which Salvosa could have used to talk to Ang about editorial matters, specifically the "matrix" story tagging journalists and group of lawyers on an alleged plan to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. 

The Manila Times said Salvosa did not object with the story nor suggested to rewrite or make changes in the piece. 

"He was merely told that copyediting was no longer required as that was done by the editor in chief," said in the statement. 

The newspaper said it stands by its story on the alleged matrix.

It defended that Ang wrote the story using information from a "credible source-- no less than the Office of the President".

''Mr Salvosa was also informed that our Chairman Emeritus did his own background check, using several sources, before submitting his draft for editing,'' the statement said.

The statement added that '' there was an effort to solicit a reaction from one of the names mentioned, but that could not be secured as of presstime on Sunday.''

"Lastly, the oust-plot story was not a PR piece. It was a legitimate news item. Dr. Ang's appointment as special envoy has no line item or office in the government or remuneration of any kind," The Manila Times said. 

"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," it added.  Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS