MALACAÑANG on Monday reminded the supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte to give respect to "legitimate" journalists, who have also become instrumental in the victory of the then Davao City mayor in the 2016 presidential race.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque urged "die-hard" supporters of Duterte to appreciate the media, who merely exercise press freedom.
Had the journalists not divulged the shortcomings of the previous administration, Roque said Duterte would not have received massive support from the Filipino electorate who picked him to serve as the country’s highest elected official.
“Before we forget, we would not know the past administration’s ‘hold-on’ policy and the pork barrel [scam] that led to corruption, if it were not for the fact that the legitimate media are reporting the shortcomings of the [previous] administration,” Roque said.
“So for me, that’s one reason why the President had been elected. And I’m explaining this to the DDS. It’s because the media also has exposed the past administration’s shortcomings. The same thing, the people would not have supported President Duterte, if the media [had] not publicize[d] the past administration’s shortcomings,” he added.
Roque made the remark after pro-Duterte blogger Rey Joseph Nieto suggested to him in an interview over radio station dwIZ to throw a hollow block at Rappler reporter Pia Ranada.
Ranada in a Facebook post called out the radio station for allowing Nieto to issue such statement against her.
"It is beyond my comprehension why a radio station supposedly recognized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas would allow a threat to be made against a fellow journalist by one of their hosts. It is an act of cowardice that has no place in the profession of journalism," she said.
Nieto, who is the person behind the social media page "Thinking Pinoy" page, brushed aside Ranada's statement, saying his remark against her was not a threat but was merely meant to slam the Rappler journalist.
Duterte's supporters have been critical of the journalists who are covering Duterte’s daily activities, including Ranada.
Following the recent controversy, Roque asked the President’s defenders to "not throw things at journalists."
He was also optimistic that Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, a social media influencer who owns “Mocha Uson Blog,” would help him reach out to the so-called DDS and relay his message.
“I’m not saying that everyone is critical but I’m driving the point that we should not throw things at journalists,” Roque said.
“I call on the DDS, and I was hoping that Asec. Mocha could be here to send the message. But I guess, in due course, we will explain in a manner that everyone will understand why press freedom is important,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)