MALACAÑANG defended Tuesday, February 19, the "meaningful and fruitful" visit of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) officials to European countries.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo explained that some officials of the PCOO, led by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, had been sent to Europe to answer queries hurled against President Rodrigo Duterte's administration.
"The delegation is tasked to deliver crucial information and campaigns of the government to Filipinos abroad, as well as to the members of the international communities," the Palace official said.
"The official trip is meaningful and fruitful even as his (Andanar) office fulfills its mandate to disseminate the policies of our government and how they are implemented in accordance with our Constitution given the continuing lies spread by the critics of [Duterte] and the tendency of some foreign entities to believe them without the benefit of prior inquiry," he added.
The statement was made a day after senators questioned the need to send PCOO's "Press Freedom Caravan" to Europe to tackle media-related issues.
The caravan in Brussels took place on February 17. It will be held in Geneva, Switzerland on February 20.
On Monday, February 18, Andanar guaranteed that no public funds were wasted in the official mission.
He also explained that the Press Caravan was sent to Brussels and Geneva not just because of the arrest of Rappler chief Maria Ressa, but to clariy issues on involuntary disappearances and anti-communist terrorist groups, among others.
Panelo said the Palace supported the PCOO"s move.
"As further elaborated by the PCOO Secretary, the officials took the trip as an opportune time to bring the Press Freedom Caravan in Brussels and Geneva as it is relevant for the Filipino community to keep them abreast of the latest developments happening in our country," he said.
"We express our support to the PCOO with its decision to send some of its officials to Europe in order to articulate on issues which have been the subject of misinformation and unfair dissemination by the detractors of [Duterte] and the Administration, and other relevant matters that require clarification and correction lest they permanently mislead the outside world," Panelo added. (SunStar Philippines)