The ante insofar as intrigue-laden stories are concerned was upped by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. The feisty and confrontational senator revealed an alleged assassination plot against President Arroyo by no less than prayerful former president Corazon Aquino and Senate President Drilon.According to Santiago, the plan to kill the President was supposed to be carried out by October 15, if the oust-Arroyo move did not materialize within the said deadline. She said she got the information from a “chattering” relative of the Senate President. Drilon and Mrs. Aquino denied the allegations, describing Santiago’s story as “fantastic,” “absurd,” and a product of the senator’s very fertile imagination.Santiago’s mind-boggling expose was the headline of the Inquirer and front-page story of the Star and The Daily Tribune on October 2. The Manila Bulletin used the story for page 1 but focused on Drilon’s denial and call for sobriety. The Manila Times reported on a plot to oust the President based on an intelligence report, whose existence was denied by the military a few days later.
Source: “He said, she said” reporting | Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility