Roque to keep post despite pro-Rody bloggers’ rants
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque will stay in his post despite calls by some supporters of President Duterte to fire him for defending the mainstream media from online attacks.
Asked how the President reacted to calls to oust him, Roque said in an online post, “You have to ask him directly. I can attest that I have not been fired.”
Roque is part of Duterte’s official delegation to Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meet.
The Palace official drew flak from supporters of Duterte for saying that the mainstream media’s reports about the failures of the previous administration helped the President win the 2016 election.
Roque also vowed to educate Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson about the role of media in a democratic society.
Uson and other supporters of Duterte have accused the mainstream media of being biased against Duterte and of spreading false information to discredit the President.
Some defenders of Duterte claimed that Roque’s appointment was a mistake and chided the presidential spokesman for siding with legitimate journalists who are critical of the President.
Roque stood by his statements, saying he remains a believer of freedom of expression and the press.
He also claimed that he and Uson are in good terms.
Roque even shared a photo of him with Uson and President Duterte in his Twitter account with a caption “united we stand.”
Uson shared the same photo online but told her followers that it would be up to them to determine its caption.
Malacañang Press Corps hits Mocha
Journalists covering the Malacañang beat have criticized an attempt by Uson to meddle with its membership policy.
Uson has asked Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to reclassify online news outlet Rappler as “social media.”
Such a reclassification would expel Rappler from the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) and subject it to the accreditation rules administered by Uson’s office.
In a letter sent to Andanar on Tuesday, Uson said Rappler has no counterpart in print and broadcast so it should be considered as social media.
In a statement, the MPC stressed that it is independent from any government agency. It also viewed Uson’s move as an attempt to curtail press freedom.
“The MPC and its affairs, governed by by-laws in accordance with the constitutional provision on press freedom, are not in any way under the control and supervision of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) or any government agency,” the group said.
“The MPC deplores any attempt to curtail press freedom and will continue to ensure a strong free press, keep the public informed and the government in check.”
For her part, Sen. Grace Poe said Uson’s move to marginalize Rappler in its coverage of Malacañang and to demand the legal authority of the MPC to cover President Duterte were “misplaced and inconsistent with the essence of press freedom and the people’s right to be informed.”
Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public information and mass media, said a strong and independent press should not be curtailed because it helps in building a vibrant democracy.
“As part of an administration that prides itself of passing the first FOI (Freedom of Information) executive order, the PCOO should welcome objective and fair coverage from the press,” she said.
“We must remember that criticism is necessary if we want an open and transparent government,” Poe added.