New Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque bared his plan on explaining to Presidential Communications Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary (ASec) Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson and the Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS) the importance of the media.
Roque cited some issues of the previous administration and praised the media’s exposés. “’Yung nakalipas na administrasyon eh maraming kapalpakan eh hindi naman din natin malalaman kung ‘di dahil sa lehitimong media (We will not discover the numerous failures of the previous administration if not for the legitimate media),” he told the reporters after the press briefing on Monday.
The media was asking the spokesman’s take on the issue between Uson, the DDS, and the mainstream media.
“Well nananawagan na naman ako sa mga DDS and I was hoping that ASec Mocha could be here to send the message. Pero I guess in due course, we will explain in a manner na maiintindihan ng lahat kung bakit importante ang karapatan ng malayang pamamahayag (Well I am calling on the DDS and I was hoping that ASec Mocha could be here to send the message. But I guess in due course, we will explain in a manner that everyone can understand why the freedom of the press is important,” he said.
Roque also recognized that presidents came into power because of the media’s influence. He also mentioned that the people would not have supported President Rodrigo Duterte if not for the media’s publicizing of issues.
“Bagamat marami mang nambabatikos, ang mga batikos naman ay nasasagot (While there are lots of critics, the criticisms are answered anyway),” Roque further said, highlighting that after all, it was part of his job to answer critics.
He said that nothing should be feared with today’s media.
“Sayang nga sana andito si (I was hoping to have) Mocha (here), so I can explain to her audience. Kaso (But) I forgot to invite her to directly talk to the DDS,” he admitted.
“I will forever be a law professor and I would forever consider individuals as under my tutelage on important matters. So I hope ASec Mocha would accept being a student of the spokesperson,” he added.
The ASec who maintains a personal blog – Mocha Uson Blog – together with the DDS are staunch critics of the mainstream media especially on issues against the administration.