(UPDATED) - Journalist Felipe Salvosa II has resigned as managing editor of The Manila Times over the paper's publication of an "association matrix" that linked some journalists to an alleged (UPDATED) - Journalist Felipe Salvosa II has resigned as managing editor of The Manila Times over the paper's publication of an "association matrix" that linked some journalists to an alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. "I just felt it was time to go after that ‘matrix’ story. I felt I had to say something about it," he said in a text message. Salvosa, who is also the coordinator of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) journalism program, quit on April 24, UST school paper The Varsitarian reported. His resignation came two days after the matrix was published along with an exclusive story written by the paper's owner Dante Ang. Salvosa had reportedly tweeted: “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.” He was asked to resign, but he told Ang that he was about to leave anyway. In a statement, The Manila Times president and CEO Dante "Klink" Ang II said Salvosa was asked to resign for behaving 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 our story 'Oust-Duterte plot bared', written by the owner himself." The younger Ang also said the paper stands by its matrix piece. The Manila Times’ statement on Mr. Felipe Salvosa’s resignationhttps://t.co/H1yPJeClWe pic.twitter.com/PUCGyR3vsT — The Manila Times (@TheManilaTimes) April 25, 2019 Salvosa has been a journalist for about 20 years, working with the BusinessWorld and Financial Times. He had served as managing editor of The Manila Times since 2016. Read: UST journalism head resigns as Times editor over 'oust Duterte' plot story The matrix, which Malacañang said came from the President, alleged that journalists from Vera Files, Rappler and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism as well as the National Union of People’s Lawyers were involved in a plot to oust Duterte. The PCIJ, in a statement, described the report as "wrong on all points". Ang, who wrote the story, is also Duterte’s special envoy for international public relations. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)<doc-sep>MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Times clarified on Thursday that one of its editors did not resign but was asked to do so, and stood by its matrix piece published in the paper. ADVERTISEMENT The matrix, accompanied by a story written by chair emeritus Dante Ang, linked some media organizations to the alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. Malacañang confirmed the existence of the matrix. READ: Palace confirms existence of oust Duterte plot Times’ managing editor Felipe Salvosa II publicly spoke against the matrix, and eventually resigned from his post on Wednesday. READ: Manila Times editor resigns after publication of oust Duterte plot “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. The Times added that Salvosa did not object the story to Ang, nor did he suggest ways on how to rewrite or handle the piece. The paper also stood by its matrix, saying it was “a story in itself” and the oust plot story accompanied was not a “PR piece.” It also denied that the story had anything to do with Ang’s appointment as special envoy to the President. “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,” the statement added. Read Next<doc-sep>
MANILA, Philippines—Felipe Salvosa II, the managing editor of the Manila Times, has resigned after the newspaper published a matrix accompanying a story about an alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. ADVERTISEMENT The article, written by its chair emeritus Dante Ang, and the matrix have been linking some media groups such as Rappler, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and Vera Files, in the alleged ouster plot. Malacañang confirmed the existence of the matrix. READ: Palace confirms existence of ‘Oust-Duterte plot’ Salvosa, who resigned Wednesday, denounced on Twitter the release of the matrix implicating several media personalities. “A diagram is by no means an evidence of ‘destabilization’ or an ‘ouster plot,’ he said. “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.” After the matrix was published in the paper, Salvosa told INQUIRER.net on Thursday that he felt that the only option was to leave the publication. “We just discussed the matrix story after it was published and I was told they were disappointed with my post on social media,” Salvosa said. He clarified though that he felt no tension at all with Ang and son Klink, president and chief executive officer of Manila Times. When asked what he plans to do next, he said he still wishes to continue teaching at the University of Santo Tomas, where he is also the coordinator of the journalism program. /jpv Read Next