Rody shoos media away from victory party

DAVAO CITY – Presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte himself shooed media away from the stage for the “Du31 One Love, One Nation” thanksgiving and victory party held Saturday night at Crocodile Park.

Duterte reportedly instructed early that morning the Presidential Security Group and party organizers to dismantle the media box intended for journalists cov- ering the event, thus making them just a part of the more than 200,000 people in attendance. Although the state-owned

PTV4 was exempted from the order, the TV crew of giant networks had no choice but to dismantle their equipment set up a day before the event.

Duterte’s reaction was seen as a response to calls by Reporters Without Borders for journalists to boycott the incoming president until he apologizes.

“Kung ayaw niyo daw mag- boycott sa kanya, siya daw mag-boycott sa inyo (If you won’t boycott him, then he will boycott the media),” Duterte’s close aide Christopher Go told journalists earlier.

Besides, Go said, Duterte is still the mayor of Davao City and President Aquino still the chief executive of the country.

Du te rte has dared the media to stop covering him and even told Manila- based media practitioners to make it their last trip in Davao City, where he plans to stay before June 30 for his inauguration into office as the country’s 16th president.

For the past three weeks, Duterte gave in to requests for press briefings as journalists from various media outlet sin Manila all flocked here to trail the presidentelect on his latest pronouncements, including his policies and Cabinet appointees.

The incoming president also stood by his statement that he would not apologize for his statements on media killings.

“No apologies. I would never apologize,” Duterte said.