Malacañang reporters fire back at Andanar, Palace execs: Stop blaming media, read entire news

A group of accredited reporters covering the President on Wednesday urged Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and other Palace officials to stop blaming the media when an issue against President Rodrigo Duterte goes out of control and to read the entire reports instead of releasing statements criticizing headlines.

"We encourage the good secretary and his officials to read the entire news stories, not just the heads or titles, to get a better picture of the media's coverage of the President," the Malacañang Press Corps said in a statement on Wednesday.

"We are disturbed and appalled by the propensity of the officials of this administration to blame the media whenever the inflammatory statements of the president stir controversy or draw flak. This trend should stop as it would not contribute to the elevation of the level of public discourse," it added.

Members of the press corps also reminded Andanar and the other officials about the role of the Fourth Estate in a democracy.

"We hope that such behavior is not an attempt to discredit or undermine the media, which plays a crucial role in keeping our democracy healthy and checking those in power, and supplant them with information sources that would push for an agenda that is less than noble than the truth," the statement said.

On Sunday night, Andanar issued a statement decrying the media reports on Duterte's remarks on when he would declare martial law.

"The President has categorically said no to martial law.  He even made a pronouncement saying that martial law did not improve the lives of the Filipinos. We therefore decry the latest misreporting that the President will declare martial law simply 'if he wants to' or that 'no one can stop the President from declaring martial law.' Such headlines sow panic and confusion to many. We consider this kind of reportage as the height of journalistic irresponsibility," Andanar said.

Part of the official transcript of the Duterte's speech on Saturday night in Davao City read:

"You know I have to protect the Filipino people. It’s my duty. I tell you now, if I have to declare martial law, I will declare it. Not about invasion, insurrection, not about danger. I will declare martial law to preserve my nation, period.

Wala akong pakialam diyan sa Supreme Court or --- because the thing, the right to preserve one’s life and my nation, my country transcends everything else even the limitation. Kung gusto ko at it will deteriorate into something really virulent, I will declare Martial Law if I wanted to. Walang makapigil sa akin.

They say, ‘Why are you declaring martial law?’ ‘Because I have to preserve the Filipino people and the youth of this land.' That’s why I said, ‘Do not go into that thing because I will kill you.’ That’s what I said in Davao, eh di namatay na talaga. Anak ka ng…Sinabi ko sa’yo, do not tinker with this, it’s a very dangerous thing."

But when MPC checked reports of its members on Duterte's martial law statement, none deviated from his remarks.

"We take exception to the statement of Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar accusing the media of 'misreporting' President Rodrigo Duterte's statement about Martial Law. A review of the President's speech last Saturday in Davao City would reveal that the media merely paraphrased or translated some of his remarks," the statement said.

"The media has no obligation to please or satisfy its sources because its loyalty is to the citizens, those who will be affected by the actions of people who are far more powerful than them," the MPC added. — RSJ, GMA News