The Malacanang Press Corps and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) bucked the move of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to exclude a broadcast reporter from covering the Palace for alleged breach of protocol.
“While acknowledging that formal requests are preferable to demands and outright bans, NUJP backs the Malacañang Press Corps on the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) bid to replace reporters it has cited for breaking protocol and attempting to have an “ambush” interview with the President,” the NUJP said in a statement on Saturday..
According to the NUJP, the issue should be seen as an opportunity for the Malacañang to look into “why reporters would have to resort to ‘ambush’ interviews in the first place.”
The NUJP also pointed out that there might be a need for more information than what is given at briefings or in advisories, or that access to the President is often limited to “managed press events and sit-down interviews with select journalists.”
“In any case, it would be more productive for the PCO to arrange regular press briefings or conversations with the President instead of trying to replace reporters whose questions and actions it may disagree with,” the NUJP noted.
The Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) on Friday strongly objected to the PCO’s request to replace a NET 25 reporter assigned to cover Palace events, calling the move as a “clear overreach” of the agency’s authority.
In a formal letter to the PCO, the MPC expressed “grave concern” over the request to replace Eden Santos, a veteran journalist from NET 25, following an alleged breach of security protocol during President Marcos’ appearance at a drug destruction event in Capas, Tarlac last June 25.
The PCO has not issued any response to the statements made by NUJP and the MPC.