PTV-4 not the private network of Malacañang, any party — Bayan Muna

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — After Malacañang defended PTV-4’s airing of President Rodrigo Duterte with his Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) partymates as a “newsworthy” event, party-list group Bayan Muna lashed back saying PTV-4 is not the “private network of Malacañang or of just one party.”

“Would PTV-4 now also air party meetings of other high officials?” asked House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate in a statement on Sunday.

“Nagpapalusot na lang ang Malakanyang dahil napulaan ang kanilang paggamit ng rekurso ng mamamayan para sa pagtakbo sa susunod na eleksyon ng kanilang mga kandidato. Ang PTV 4 ay hindi pribadong network ng Malacañang o ng isang partido,” added the solon.

(Malacañang is just making an excuse because it is using people’s resources for the election campaign of their candidates. PTV-4 is not a private network of Malacañang or of just one party.)

During the two-hour PDP-Laban meeting, which was aired on Wednesday afternoon, Duterte once again floated the possibility of his running for vice president in the 2022 elections.

Meanwhile, PTV-4 also aired the People’s Reform Party’s (PRP) endorsement of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s possible bid in the 2022 presidential elections.

According to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the airing of the two-hour PDP-Laban meeting and PRP’s press briefing were justified as both were “newsworthy” events.

“If one is to follow the logic being used by Harry Roque, then why is it that Vice President Leni Robredo’s meeting with the Liberal Party or Senate President Tito Sotto’s meetings with the Nationalist People’s Coalition or other high officials are not aired live by PTV4?” Zarate further asked.

“Itigil na po nila ang paggamit sa rekurso ng  mamamayan para sa kanilang pansariling political agenda sa 2022 elections. Ganyan pa talaga ang ginagawa nila sa pondo at rekurso ng bayan habang kinakapos pa rin sa mass testing, bakuna at ayuda?” he added.

(They must stop using the people’s resources for their own political agenda in the 2022 elections. Is this the way they are spending the country’s funds and resources while the country still needs mass testing, vaccines and aid)

Earlier, Zarate called the PTV-4 live coverage of the PDP-Laban meeting “an unabashed display of impunity,” describing the live coverage as a “clearly partisan political activity.”

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/MUF