Señeres denies tagging businessmen in coup plot

Former ambassador Roy Señeres has denied tagging certain prominent businessmen as financiers of an alleged plot to overthrow the Arroyo government.

In an affidavit he submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday, Señeres said that "contrary to what was reported in the media, I never said that Felipe Cruz Jr., Iñigo Zobel and Antonio "Tony Boy" Cojuangco were financiers of a coup plot.

"There was no occasion that I discussed with Felipe Cruz Jr., Iñigo Zobel and Tony Boy Cojuangco about financing such destabilization plot or coup d’etat," Señeres stressed.

He lamented that such "speculations" attributed to him "created quite a stir" that compelled the justice department, Philippine National Police (PNP), the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and NBI to look into the matter.

Señeres also noted that the names dragged in the alleged coup plot have issued their denials.

Cruz is president of construction firm FF Cruz and Co., Cojuangco chairs ABC-5 television station while Zobel sits on the board of San Miguel Corp.