Duterte: No media interviews until the end of my term

Incoming Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
PHOTO BY DENNIS JAY SANTOS / INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY — President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said that he would no longer grant interviews until the end of his term, apparently firm on his decision to distance himself from journalists after drawing flak for his statement on media killings.

“Sorry ha, talagang ano… boycott talaga,” he said in a video posted on Facebook on Monday by TV5 correspondent France Noguera.

Asked until when he would boycott interviews, the Davao City mayor said it would be “until the end of my term.”

“Ayoko na. Ang interview maraming mali, maraming criticisms. No interview, no criticism. No wrong statement, no nothing. I’ll shut up, ayoko na talaga,” he said.

Last week, Duterte’s executive assistant Bong Go said the mayor would temporarily stop holding press conferences in order to avoid mistakes.

READ: No Duterte press cons for now, says aide

Instead, all statements of Duterte will be coursed through the government television network PTV-4.

The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders issued a statement last week to boycott the tough-talking mayor after he said that many journalists in the country had been killed because they were corrupt.

READ: Boycott Duterte’s press briefings, media watchdog urges PH journos

Duterte, in return, refused to apologize and also dared the media to stop covering him.

He also drew criticisms after catcalling GMA-7 reporter Mariz Umali in one of his press conferences last week.

READ: GMA reporter scores Duterte for catcalling wife Mariz Umali

At his victory party last Saturday, Duterte in his speech also criticized a  journalist for asking about his medical condition in a previous interview.

“How is the vagina of your wife? Is it smelly? Or not smelly? Give me the report. Bastos eh,” the mayor said, finding the question offensive.

He said the media were always asking “impertinent questions.” JE/rga

READ: Mayor vents ire on wrong journalist