Defensor denies Palace ordered to stalk media personalities

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor on Monday denied allegations that Malacañang has ordered the intelligence community to stalk media personalities believed to be involved in moves to bring down the administration of President Gloria Arroyo. Defensor said none of the news articles written by Philippine Daily Inquirer editor and investigative writer Gerry Lirio and reporter Fe Zamora could be considered “seditious.’ He, however, admitted that “certain" elements of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) could “possibly" be monitoring Lirio and Zamora “to get to the financiers if any, if ever." Defensor said he continues to respect Lirio and Zamora. “I have known them and they are also friends of mine. I have not seen any of the writings of Gerry Lirio and Fe Zamora that would constitute something seditious," he said. He added: “If ever there was an article written by Gerry Lirio, it was the House of Representative’s supposed video brouhaha that really did not amount to anything." Defensor said the government does not have to issue guidelines for the members of the media since all media organizations from print to broadcast have their own mechanisms that would protect them from any criminal or civil liability. -GMANews.TV