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Sunday, August 17, 2003
Glo confronts TV reporter over Honasan interview
By She Caguimbal-Torres
MANILA -- President Arroyo in another temper outburst berated Tina Cassandra Panganiban-Perez, GMA-7's Malacanang reporter on her exclusive interview with Senator Gregorio Honasan.
Arroyo told Perez that her interview with Honasan was tantamount to "aiding and abetting rebellion" and vowed to check with the GMA-7's news desk if the interview was with their approval.
Arroyo and Malacanang reporters were in Mictrotel Inn and Suites in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro for a provincial sortie with the confrontation took place over dinner. Witnesses said the President was "very cold and sarcastic" when she joined the media after the dinner.
When Perez tried to explain that the interview took place after she lifted the state of rebellion, Arroyo cut her off, saying, "No it was during and that's abetting rebellion."
Perez further explained that the interview was with the approval of the GMA-7's news desk but Arroyo answered, "Let us see, let me call your desk, let us see."
Arroyo confronted Perez of information from her "assets" that she was with Honasan during the state of rebellion. She further questioned the TV reporter why she did not interview Maj. Gen. Alfonso Dagudag, AFP Southern Luzon Command Chief, to give the government's side.
Press Undersecretary Rocky Nazareno urged Malacanang reporters to interview Dagudag early on Friday afternoon but reporters were running after Arroyo's convoy finds no time to interview the military official.
"You interviewed the other side! You don't interview the other side!" Arroyo reportedly reacted to the explanation.
The President's outburst came barely a week after Magdalo spokesman Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that Arroyo refused to listen to his complaints about corruption in the military during their July 13 meeting in Malacanang.
Trillanes had said Arroyo was "arrogant" and was "yakking and yakking" during the meeting.
Members of the Malacaņang Press Corps (MPC) were outraged upon hearing the story and grew even more concerned about Arroyo's statement concerning her "assets," who tell her about the whereabouts of media persons.
MPC president Ely Saludar said he would try to get Perez's personal account of the incident, adding that if the details are accurate, "it is a form of interference in the way the media works."
"I was surprised and I am wondering why she did that. There is still no warrant for Honasan's arrest. She never did that to media interviewing the Abu Sayyaf," he said.
Palace chief, Rigoberto Tiglao was quick to explain about the issue on "assets" said the government is resolved to uphold the freedom of the press.
" We urge the press to be more circumspect in its reportage, as well as in the means to gather information, during times when the peace and order situation is threatened and the authorities are engaged in ongoing operations against persons suspected of being engage in a conspiracy to overthrow the duly-constituted government," Tiglao said in a statement.
Tiglao further explained that the government is not engaged in spying on the media or in the harassment of reporters in the conduct of their legitimate work. Tina Panganiban-Perez was encountered by chance by intelligence assets assigned to determine the whereabouts of Senator Gregorio Honasan, who is suspected of being involved in the Oakwood incident. This information was relayed by the President to the reporter forthrightly and as a matter of fact, with no intention to threaten her with legal action.
"As a former mediaman, I will be the first to protest any form of curtailment of the legitimate freedom of the press. There is absolutely no policy of surveillance on mediamen, or will there ever be," Tiglao said.
It was learned that Arroyo went to the GMA 7 office to talk to its executives Saturday night.
Perez' experience was not the first time Malacaņang tried to interfere with the work of the media.(Sunnex)
(August 17, 2003 issue)
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