PCOO to continue Duterte coverage amid possible VP run

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar attends the Senate hearing in this file photo taken on Jan. 30, 2018. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will continue its coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte even amid his possible vice presidential run in the 2022 national elections.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar made the remark Tuesday as one lawmaker noted that his agency will be used as a “propaganda arm” for Duterte who has accepted his endorsement as the vice presidential candidate of the ruling PDP-Laban party.

“We will continue to exercise our mandate to cover President Rodrigo Duterte until the end of his term, June 30, 2022,” Andanar said during the budget deliberations for the 2022 budget of the PCOO.

“If that (Duterte running for vice president) happens, I believe it is the first time that a  President is running for VP but we have a mandate also to cover the president. I guess that’s the equity of the incumbent,” he added.

It was Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate who raised this issue as he cited the airing the meeting of PDP-Laban in government channels People’s Television Network (PTV) and the Presidential Broadcast Staff Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) back in July. The event was attended by Duterte.

“Inamin ni Secretary Andanar na ipo-promote nila yung narrative ng Malacanang—ni President Duterte—so in  effect sila communication arm, propaganda arm ng Presidente at ng Malacanang,” Zarate said.

(Secretary Andanar admitted that they will promote the narrative of Malacanang—the narrative of the President—so in effect, they will serve as the communication arm, the propaganda arm of the President.)

“Given the fact na malapit na ang eleksyon and in fact nagsisimula na yung mga acitivities for the 2022 elections, saan papapel dito PCOO? Ang papel ba ng PCOO dito is to give advantage to parties of president as well as candidates of president?” he added.

(Given the fact that the election is nearing and activities for the 2022 polls have begun, what will be PCOO’s role here? Will the role of the PCOO be to give advantage to parties of president as well as candidates of president?)

Upon hearing Andanar’s response that the PCOO will continue its coverage of Duterte until his term ends, Zarate said: “At least it’s very clear that the PCOO, true to its mandate, will give advantage to the President if he pursues his political plans in 2022 elections.”

JPV