Screen grab from the Radio-TV Malacañang Youtube page.
Malacañang on Friday barred media personnel from covering events at its press briefing room, releasing new protocols meant to “prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
During a “public address,” only resource speakers, cameramen of of the in-house Radio-TV Malacañang, and one moderator from the Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs, will be allowed at the press briefing room inside the New Executive Building.
“Members of the press shall no longer be allowed inside the press briefing room until the end of the Enhanced Community Quarantine,” a media advisory dated March 26 said.
“The media may participate during the public address via the virtual presser or by submitting questions either to the moderator or the resource speaker,” it said.
Reporters will be informed of the list of resource persons in advance, the advisory stated.
Media companies were also “encouraged” to hook up to state-run PTV’s broadcasts.
The last time media personnel were allowed inside the briefing room was March 25.
On Friday, Col. Jesus Durante, commander of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), said the Palace was not on lockdown.
He said he ordered a lockdown only for PSG personnel, from March 28 until April 10.
Members of the “skeletal workforce” of the Office of the President are allowed to go in an out of the Palace complex, he said. (PressONE.ph)