Netizens only need to be at least 18 years old and have more than 5,000 followers in any social media platforms to be able to get access and “cover” President Rodrigo Duterte’s events.
This was bared Wednesday as the Palace said that it was opening its gates to so-called “social media practitioners” to cover Palace activities, “in order to generate news and information for the citizenry through social media platforms,” according to the Presidential Communications Operations Office.
In Department Order No. 15, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar ordered for an interim ‘social media practitioner accreditation system’ that will be handled by the PCOO’s Social Media Office under former sex guru-turned-blogger, Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson.
A “Social Media Practitioner” refers to “a person that maintains a publicly accessible social media page, blog, or website, which generates content and whose principle advocacy is the regular dissemination of original news and/or opinion of interest.”
To apply for accreditation, qualified persons need to file their applications at the Social Media Office at 2nd Floor, New Executive Building, J.P. Laurel St., Malacañang Palace, San Miguel, Manila.
Accreditation, however, is on a per event/activity only, which is valid for single use, unless expressly specified. They however, should seek clearance first from the Presidential Security Group, which handles Duterte’s security.
The PCOO may “withdraw, cancel or suspend” the accreditation, on grounds of abuse of rights and privileges extended by PCOO and using his//her accreditation to improper use.