Manila-based Nelly Sindayen, citing her own sources, had earlier written that the plot was hatched during a clandestine meeting by political personalities who were disappointed with Mrs. Arroyo.
Contacted by The STAR, Sindayen said she has not received any copy of the hold-departure order from the Bureau of Immigration.
‘Nothing written about the hold order has been sent to me. So how can I comment?" she asked.
The justice department plans to use the article to form the basis of charges it plans to file against those named as having been in the meeting.
The plot allegedly called for the withdrawal of support of key military and police officers who were to join an anti-Arroyo march to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the people power revolt that toppled the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos on Feb. 24.
Mrs. Arroyo placed the Philippines under a state of national emergency for a week to quash the alleged coup.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the move was meant to force Sindayen to cooperate with the investigation.
"She won’t be arrested, but she must cooperate. We’re not asking for anything except for the truth. We just want to talk to her," he said.
Gonzalez said that those named in Sindayen’s report have denied having had a meeting, and that she was being invited by the justice department to clarify the issue.
"We will file charges against these individuals if I find there’s probable cause," he said.
Sindayen, a correspondent for Time for more than 20 years, declined to comment when contacted by Agence France Presse, saying that she had not been informed of her travel ban. — AFP