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Media boycott over? Duterte holds first press briefing in Malacañang
President Rodrigo Duterte’s boycott on the media is apparently over, as he held his first press briefing with members of the press corps in Malacañang on Monday.
Duterte answered questions from the media – from contractualization to the peace process – after he led the oath-taking of more than 20 of his appointed officials at the Rizal Hall.
Happening now: Duterte talks to the media after leading oath taking of some appointed officials pic.twitter.com/btOemXCMPZ
— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) August 1, 2016
After the oath-taking, Duterte walked towards the media area to the surprise of reporters, photographers, and cameramen. The microphone stand had to be moved in the middle of the room where the President was standing as the media huddled closer to him.
"Two urgent matters that I will bring to the attention of the people of the Philippines," he said as he began to talk about contractualization and mining.
Then, he granted reporters a chance to ask questions about the peace talks with the communists and the Bangsamoro as well as his preferred mode to amend the Constitution.
The impromptu briefing lasted for around 40 minutes, as Duterte responded to questions at length, just like the old times. Duterte even inserted jokes in between serious topics.
"We have about five more hours to go," he joked.
Duterte was even game enough to pose for a photo with some members of the media, even though he was to attend a Cabinet meeting.
When the President calls for an impromptu prescon, u seize the day and ask for a photo lol
A photo posted by josephthaddeus (@josephthaddeus) on
It was the first briefing held in Manila after he declared a boycott on the media in June, days before he assumed the presidency.
Special assistant to the president, Christopher “Bong” Go, said then that Duterte will temporarily stop holding press conferences to avoid mistakes.
Last week, Duterte talked to select members of the press after he delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Duterte earlier said he would boycott the press until the end of his term in 2022. — RSJ, GMA News
