Duterte to limit interaction with media

MANILA, Philippines – Even as his communications secretary gave assurance that there would be no media boycott, president-elect Rodrigo Duterte yesterday maintained he would limit his interactions with the press during his term and deal with journalists only when he has “business” with them.

Incoming communications secretary Martin Andanar, in a press briefing with his predecessor Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on Monday, said there is no indication from the incoming president that he would not talk to the media during his entire term.

After announcing that he would boycott the media, Andanar claimed Duterte was interviewed by two television stations in Cebu City during a thanksgiving party on June 8.

Duterte dared the media to boycott him after a press conference where he was criticized for saying he could not do anything about media killings and that the industry must do something about its own problems such as corruption.

Meeting with businessmen in Davao City yesterday, Duterte said he would continue with the boycott because some media people would just be destructive and disregard defense of honor and life.

He said honor and saving face were very important to Filipinos but some, he said, were “really outright idiots” and would no longer care about them in presenting stories.

“If that’s the case, p*** mo, go away,” Duterte said, adding “I don’t give interviews anymore.”

Duterte earlier was slammed for whistling at a female TV reporter during a media briefing.

The incident elicited criticisms from various media groups, including the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders that proposed a boycott of Duterte.

The international media organization also slammed Duterte for his statements that some journalists sought their deaths because of engaging in corruption.

Coloma and Andanar met anew on Monday for the transition. They first held discussions on how the communications team of President Aquino worked in the past six years last June 6.