Lacson to Duterte communications team: Speak in one voice

Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella and Presidential Communications Office chief Secretary Martin Andanar gestures. AP Photo

Learn “the art of lying closest to the truth.”

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson had this advice to President Rodrigo Duterte’s communications officials and closest advisers who have spent recent weeks seemingly chasing tails in explaining apparently confusing statements of the chief executive.

“When doing damage control, they should learn the art of lying closest to the truth,” said Lacson Wednesday morning.

He said those who speak on the President’s behalf should do so “in one tone and language.”

READ: Miscommunication, disinformation office

“Since President Duterte is apparently averse to unsolicited advice even from his closest cabinet members, they should learn to anticipate the current developing issues and be able to slip thru the special assistant [to the President Christopher “Bong” Go] a simple, informative executive brief on a regular basis,” Lacson told the Inquirer in a text message.

READ: PR nightmare: Too late for Duterte makeover

It has been an unending series of clarifications from the President’s spokesmen this week, calling pressers to explain that what Mr. Duterte had said, he essentially did not mean or completely did not say.

These include the President’s statements on the pullout of United States troops from Mindanao, and remarks about the status of Filipino death row convict Mary Jane Veloso to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.