Journalists required medical clearance to cover Duterte Zamboanga visit

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur –– In a sudden change of policy, journalists covering the visit of President Duterte here on Friday were required to show medical certificates stating they are not infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Assuming test kits are available, the turnaround time for COVID-19 testing through the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction process is two days.

Dominic Sanchez, Philippine Information Agency manager for the Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawitawi area, issued the last-minute advisory as local journalists were preparing to go to the Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB), where Duterte will have his Talk to Troops.

Duterte had wanted to talk to the soldiers, whose morale, he said, plunged due to the killing of four Army intelligence agents in Jolo, Sulu by nine policemen.

Duterte had also wanted to talk to the nine cops.

Sanchez told the journalists the medical certificates would be presented at the entrance gate of the military facility.

“Sorry to inform you, but there are some changes, media are required to present medical certificates,” Sanchez said, adding that the instruction was from the Media Accreditation and Relations Office, which in turn, was advised by the airbase command.

Earlier, the only coverage protocol set was for a journalist to wear identification cards, face masks, and personal protective equipment; observe strict social distancing; wear smart casual get up, and consent to be subjected to rapid antibody testing.

Although the event with Duterte is at 5:15 p.m., the call time was set at 1:30 p.m., to have enough time for rapid testing.

Barred from physically witnessing the event, Sanchez said the journalists could monitor via RTVM.

Major Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said the advisory on requiring journalists to have medical certificates didn’t come from officials of the airbase because they don’t decide on protocols relating to the President’s activities.

“It’s not the EAAB who decides regarding the protocol…, it’s the Presidential Security Group. EAAB only follows the order from higher-ups,” Encinas added.

LZB