DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Saying journalists “think too much of themselves,” President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday lashed out at journalists, even responding to boycott calls against him: “do not cover me.”
READ: Duterte dares media: Boycott me!
“Kill journalism in this country. Stop journalism in this country, if you are worth your salt. If not, then I will think lowly of you. [That would mean] that you are like cowards,” said Duterte.
Asked later to clarify, Duterte again backtracked and said he did not mean to say country, but instead meant to stop coverage in his city in response to the boycott call by the Reporters Without Borders.
“I cannot stop you,” Duterte said.
“I was saying (expletive) do not threaten me. I said I’m ready to lose the presidency, my honor or my life. Just do not f*** with me,” Duterte said.
In the wake of an international backlash over his remarks justifying the death of corrupt journalists, Duterte expressed no remorse, even telling journalists not to cover him.
“Magboycott kayo. I’m urging you: make this trip your last in Davao City. I do not care if no one is covering me,” he said.
“I’m telling the networks, do not come here. I do not need you… I would ask the cabinet to avoid you,” Duterte said.
He told journalists to just cover him through the state television network, or a website where his administration would post updates.
The President-elect was apparently incensed at global attention that he has received from his statements Tuesday night, when he said one journalist was killed not because of his profession, but because he was corrupt.
READ: Duterte endorses killing corrupt journalists
His camp said Wednesday his statements were misinterpreted, and that he was not justifying the slay of journalists just because they are corrupt.
In a tone of reprimand, Duterte laid down his classification of journalists: the “crusaders, baring it all before the public,” the “mouthpiece of vested interests” and “the lowlives.”
Saying he has been “very careful” about his statements, Duterte said he had “no apologies” for citing the example of Juan Pala Jr., the journalist killed in Davao City in 2003.
“No apologies. Bullshit,” he said.
He hit corruption in journalism, telling the media: It’s about time we bare each other. Let us not deny each other the truth.
“Lahat halos humihingi. Ayoko na magsalita. Lahat,” he said, adding that he himself had given money and favors to journalists.
Asked later whether he did not feel complicit to corruption because of giving in to requests, Duterte said that was “PR” (public relations). TVJ
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