Hontiveros scores state-run radio station's 'Wow China' program

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday expressed concern over an alleged Chinese propaganda being aired at state-run radio station under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

"I am very disturbed that there is a radio program called 'Wow China' that airs on Radyo Pilipinas 738, a state-owned AM radio station of the Philippine Broadcasting Service under the Presidential Communications Operations Office," Hontiveros said in a statement.

"PCOO should be fulfilling its mandate of helping the Filipino people with relevant and timely information especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. But instead, it is allowing a program that promotes China and its state ideology," she added.

The senator said the government is a hypocrite for acting critical of alleged foreign ownership of local media outlets when its own platforms are "aiding and abetting this clear foreign encroachment."

Hontiveros called for the immediate scrapping of the "Wow China" program.

She said the PCOO and PBS must also explain to Filipino taxpayers why such contents are being aired in a government-owned radio station.

"For me, this is a betrayal of the Filipino people. Our state media should always place Filipinos’ interests and welfare first," she said.

In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the people have the right to issue opinions about the program.

"That’s part of the free marketplace of ideas. Hayaan po nating bumuo ng sariling opinyon ang ating mga kababayan diyan sa inereng advertisement na ‘yan o programa," Roque said in a televised briefing.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, meanwhile, said the PBS will issue a statement on the matter.

Last week, Hontiveros also called out the newspaper ads regarding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) which appeared on the heels of the recent approval of the industry's partial resumption of operations despite the COVID-19 situation.— with Virgil Lopez/AOL, GMA News