ANOTHER round of media relations seminars for recently appointed government officials?

A broadcaster Friday took to task newly appointed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino for being ?discourteous? and providing her with wrong information.

GMA 7 reporter Lala Roque criticized Tolentino during her hour-long program Friday morning, hitting the official for the ?discourteous? manner she said she was treated when she tried to interview him on Thursday afternoon.

Roque said she went to the MMDA headquarters in Makati City that day to ask Tolentino to shed more light into allegations he made on a rival television station about a payola scheme involving bus companies and transport cooperatives.

Tolentino had accused the companies of greasing the palms of MMDA personnel on ABS-CBN.

The MMDA chair, however, did not elaborate as to what the money was for. He also did not say how and where he obtained the information, and how he was able to verify the existence of the payola three days into the job.

Tolentino took over the reins of the agency on Tuesday, replacing retired Judge Oscar Inocentes.

The Inquirer also sought the chair to elaborate on his accusations, but his spokesperson, Yves Gonzalez, said the official was out of the office. ?I know only what you know,? he added.

Roque said she asked for the chair?s contact number to clarify the information. The official allegedly refused to give his number, but later relented.

?I texted the chairman thanking him for granting me an interview. But it was my colleague, Mariz Umali, who texted me back telling me I sent the message to the wrong person.?

The chair refused to speak or face the media at his office Friday afternoon.

?He does not want to comment. Is it really that important?? Gonzalez told reporters.