LINGAYEN, Pangasinan Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas has denied allegations that he is part of a plot to oust President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“There is absolutely no truth to the accusations” of the police and its witness, Peter Joemel “Bikoy” D. Advincula, he said in a filing at the Justice department.

The priest denied the claim of Mr. Advincula that they met in December at the Jesuit residence at the Ateneo de Manila University to discuss the release of videos allegedly linking the president and his family to the illegal drug trade.

“I must underscore that my meeting with Mr. Advincula, brief as it was, was part of my priestly ministry to give solace to those who are suffering,” he said.

Mr. Villegas is facing charges of inciting to sedition, cyberlibel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal and obstruction of justice. Also charged was Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo and several others including opposition senators, lawyers and church leaders.

Human Rights Watch earlier said authorities should drop the “preposterous complaint” against the vice president, saying it was a “transparent attempt to harass and silence critics of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s bloody drug war.” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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