MANILA (The Philippine Star/ Pacific Media Watch): President-elect Rodrigo Duterte says he will no longer grant media interviews until the end of his term to avoid criticism and incorrect media statements.
Duterte was seen saying this in a video posted by Philippines TV5 journalistm France Nogueran on her Twitter page.
In the video he said: “If there are interviews, there will be many mistakes, there will be many criticisms. So no interview, no criticism, no wrong statements, no nothing.”
According to the Philippine Star, Duterte will only publicise statements through the government television station PTV-4.
In the past week, Duterte's criticism of media has seen the press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders urging a boycott against him until he apologises for comments made about violence against journalists.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), also spoke out against Duterte’s “disturbed” comments and released a statement calling on the newly elected president to do his duty and protect media freedom.
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Pacific Media Watch
