Duterte to PCOO, media: Uphold the truth

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday urged both the Presidential Communications Operations Office and the media to stick to the facts in carrying out their duties.

Duterte made the statement at the launch of the refurbished press briefing room of  Malacañang’s New Executive Building.

“To my fellow workers in government, especially those who form part of the Communications Office, I enjoin you to remain committed to your duty of upholding the truth at all times,” he said.

“Never exaggerate, never misinterpret [and] never agitate as you communicate our platform of governance. In other words, do not be arrogant,” he added.

Pres. Duterte posed with PCOO officials after inauguration of NEB briefing area pic.twitter.com/OkH01eiNUP

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) October 12, 2017

Duterte also said that the same as he addressed the media in his speech.

“In the same vein, I call on our friends from the media to also remain committed to the truth at all times. Never, never lie because we are not up to it anyway,” he said.

“Never confuse your search for answers with the need to engage the public through sensationalized news and over-publicized political propaganda,” he added.

The statement came amid accusations that Duterte supporters such as PCOO Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and blogger RJ Nieto of Thinking Pinoy are spreading “fake news” online. The two also accused the media of publishing “fake news.”

Although he inaugurated a press briefing room, Duterte did not hold a media conference during the event and refused to talk to the reporters before leaving the building.

After reading his prepared speech, Duterte accused online news site Rappler of being funded by the US' Central Intelligence Agency. — BM, GMA News