Malacañang on Thursday said the meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte’s political party, PDP-Laban, was newsworthy enough to be aired over state television.
The PDP-Laban meeting was aired on Wednesday over the People’s Television Network (PTV-4).
“Ang alam ko po, whenever it’s newsworthy, it’s covered kasi kung hindi po ma-ii-scoop naman sila. PTV is still a news agency,” Roque told reporters in a media briefing.
“Another example of a newsworthy event is the interment of the former Philippine president that was also covered live by PTV-4,” he added.
During the meeting, Duterte expressed his willingness to seek the vice presidency in 2022.
He pushed Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go to run for the presidency next year.
The president also discouraged anew her daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, from seeking the presidency.
The airing of the meeting was questioned by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate.
“Has the government station become the private property of PDP-Laban or is it in line with Pres. Duterte’s penchant for claiming taxpayer’s paid services and personnel as his own?” Zarate said in a statement.
He added that it was “an unabashed display of impunity in using government time and resources…aimed at pandering the whims of Pres. Duterte to escape accountability and extend his tyrannical influence, control and power beyond June 30, 2022.” John Ezekiel J. Hirro
