Roque to explain role of critical media to Mocha, ‘DDS’

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque answers question in a briefing held at Malacañang’s New Executive Bldg. on Monday, November 6, 2017. (INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC)

(Updated) The media have found an ally on Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque as he promised to explain to rabid supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte, or the so-called Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS), the role of critical journalists.

In Monday’s press briefing at the Palace, Roque said he would reach out to the DDS through Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, who has 4.5 million followers on Facebook.

Journalists, especially those critical of Duterte and his administration, have received online attacks and threats from DDS.

“I am calling out to the DDS and I was hoping Asec. Mocha could be here to send the message. In due course, we will explain in a manner that all will understand why rights of the free press are important,” Roque told reporters.

Roque said he would have wanted Uson to be present during the Monday briefing to “directly talk” to her and to her followers but he forgot to invite her.

Roque said he would tell Uson that the media have been instrumental in exposing the anomalies of the past administration.

“Iyong teka-teka policy ng nakaraang administrasyon, iyong korapsyon sa pork barrel na ebidensiya na iyong nakalipas na administrasyon maraming kapalpakan, hindi naman natin malalaman kung hindi sa lehitimong media,” he said.

(The indecisive policy of the past administration, the corruption with the pork barrel which was evidence of the past administration’s many failures, we won’t know about it if not for legitimate media.)

“Isang dahilan kaya naluklok sa kapangyarihan ang mga presidente (One of the reasons why the presidents are put into power), I’m explaining this to the DDS (Duterte’s die-hard supporters) ‘no, because the media has exposed ‘yung mga kapalpakan ng nakalipas na administrasyon (the gaffes of the past administration),” he added.

Roque also said that the government has nothing to fear from the media.

“The people would have not supported President Duterte if the media did not emphasize iyong kapalpakan ng (the mistakes of the) previous administration… Ngayon naman, wala namang ikatatakot sa media ngayon. Bagamat napakadaming batikos, lahat ng batikos naman ay nasasagot (Now, there’s nothing to be afraid about with the media. Even though there’s a lot of criticism, each one of them can be answered),” he said.

Roque hopes Uson would take his comment in a positive way.

“Bago pa lang naman kami nagkasama ni Asec (We are new colleagues). You know, I like her, she likes me. I will forever be a law professor and I will forever consider individuals as under my tutelage on important matters. So, I hope Asec. Mocha will accept being a student of the spokesperson,” he said.

Sought for comment, Uson said she was not attacking the media in general.

“Una po sa lahat hindi ko po inaatake ang pangkalahatang media (First of all, I’m not attacking all of media),” she said in a statement sent to the media.

She said she was not making her attacks personal but rather she was only attacking fake news.

“At hindi ko po inaatake ang kanilang pagkatao na tulad ng ginagawa nila sa akin. Ang atin lamang pong inaatake ay kanilang mga FAKE NEWS,” she said.

(And I’m not attacking them personally like what they’re doing to me. What we’re attacking is their FAKE NEWS.)

She told Roque that the DDS were not like the “yellow trolls,” who are paid to create chaos on social media by attacking the government.

Yellow trolls allegedly refers to the social media army of the Liberal Party or the political opponents of Duterte.

“Pangalawa, linawin ko lang po kay Spox Roque na ang mga DDS ay hindi tulad ng mga dilawang troll kung saan ay nababayaran upang manggulo at mam-bash sa social media,” she said.

(Secondly, I’d like to clarify to Spokesperson Roque that the DDS are not like the yellow trolls who are paid to create chaos and bash people on social media.)

Uson said Roque should also remind the media to respect the opinions of netizens.

“Ang DDS ay may sariling pag-iisip. Mas maganda siguro po i-remind natin hindi lang ang mga DDS na resputuhin ang Media, i-remind din po sana natin ang mga media na resputuhin din ang opinion ng netizens,” she said.

(The DDS have minds of their own. Maybe it’s better to remind not only the DDS to respect the media, but also remind those in media to respect the opinion of netizens.)

“May opinion ang media at may opinion din ang mga netizens. Galangin natin ng pareho at patas. Salamat po (Those in media have opinions and netizens have opinions too. Let’s respect both equally. Thank you),” she added. /kga, je