Press con war confuses media

Now it’s the war of the press conferences.

Reporters yesterday were forced to choose where to get the "juiciest story" — from the supporters of President Arroyo, or from a militant group rallying against her.

The two press conferences were held simultaneously yesterday in adjacent function rooms at the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City.

"Dito na kayo sa amin, marami nang anti-GMA sa kalye (Come with us, there are already many anti-GMA rallyists on the street)," a media coordinator of the pro-Arroyo Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) told reporters.

However, a leader of Outrage, a sectoral alliance of overseas workers, told The STAR they would break a big "anti-GMA story" during their press conference.

"Dito ka na, mas malaki ang istorya dito (Come with us, there is a big story here)," the militant leader said.

The opposing groups sought to entice members of the media like hawkers at a fresh produce market.

To lure back reporters, PDSP leaders countered that National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales would be coming and that he would be making "an important announcement."

"Hahabol si Secretary Gonzales dito (Secretary Gonzales will be coming)," said the PDSP moderator.

Gonzales is PDSP secretary general.

While a PDSP leader was reading a prepared statement, dozens of relatives of overseas Filipino workers arrived, some straying into the pro-Arroyo press conference.

"Doon kayo sa kabila (Go to the other room)," an usher politely told them.

When Gonzales failed to arrive, the reporters left one by one for the press conference of the anti-Arroyo Group Outrage comprised of various associations of overseas workers.

Leaders of Outrage announced that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) would be asked to send their remittances via informal channels like the "door-to-door" service.

The move was meant to prevent the government from boasting that more foreign exchange are coming in to boost the economy, the leaders added, urging OFWS to shun the banking system.

Leaders of Outrage said last year, a total of $8.5 billion was remitted though banks by more than 900,000 Filipinos working abroad.

The International Labor Organization has estimated that at least $21 billion in remittances are sent to the country yearly through formal and non-formal channels, they added. — Perseus Echeminada