Networks barred from inaugural hall

DAVAO CITY — TV and radio networks have been allowed to broadcast live the inauguration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte but from a “strategic” area on Malacañang grounds, incoming Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Wednesday.

“After serious consideration, the organizing committee of inauguration 2016 has decided to approve the request of the national broadcasting companies to have a strategic space on Malacañang grounds,” he said.

Journalists can do their stand-uppers near Gate 6 while the inauguration on June 30 is going on inside Rizal Hall, Andanar said.

Only the state-run People’s Television 4 (PTV 4) and Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) are allowed to cover the inauguration inside Rizal Hall, which can only accommodate 500 guests.

Media outfits would rely on PTV 4 and RTVM for their live videos.

Social networking site Facebook has also offered to live-stream the inauguration, incoming presidential spokesperson Ernie Abella said.

“We had a meeting with the representative of Facebook Asia and they offered to live-stream the inauguration. It can be easily accessed especially by OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and Filipinos all over the world,” Abella said.

Meanwhile, LED screens will be mounted in Davao City to allow the residents to monitor the inauguration live.

Duterte is also sticking with a simple inaugural reception for the diplomatic corps, Andanar said on Wednesday.

“There will be no champagne popping, no caviar, no blue cheese,” Andanar said.

A reception for the diplomatic corps will be held after Duterte takes his oath before his fraternity brother, Supreme Court Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes, inside the Rizal Hall, he said.

After taking his oath, Duterte will himself administer the oath to the Cabinet members and then meet with the diplomatic corps.

In keeping with Duterte’s wishes, a simple, brief inauguration is being planned. The rites including the “salubong” (meet-up) between Duterte and outgoing President Aquino will be “edited” and “shortened,” Andanar said.

Andanar said Duterte’s inaugural speech was being finalized.

“The President has full editorial control of his speech,” he said, adding that this will be free of expletives and delivered in a mix of English, Filipino and Cebuano.

“He liked it. He liked the teleprompter,” he said.

It is not yet clear who will stand beside Duterte but both Andanar and Abella confirmed that people close to him, including his children Sara, Paolo, Sebastian and Veronica, will be there.

Cabinet members and Davao City councilors were also invited but were strictly advised not to bring their spouses./rga