Palace denied ‘managing’ flow of news on Mamasapano

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Friday denied accusations that it is trying to “manage the flow of information” on the Mamasapano debacle.

“I would not say that the President is managing the flow of information because that would imply that there are things that do not get out because the President wishes it so,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told Palace reporters.

Instead, Valte said the positions of President Benigno Aquino III’s allies in Congress are based on what they know and not what Malacañang is feeding them.

“The position of Senator [Franklin] Drilon on this matter is obviously borne out by the fact that he has access to information. And that he also made his own inquiries from the hearing that took place in the Senate and the President’s meeting with them was to stress the importance of making sure that the draft [Bangsamoro Basic Law] receives our proper attention, discussion and the deliberation owing to the fact that the subject matter is quite important,” she explained.

Valte was reacting to Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello’s call to leaders of the House of Representatives, who recently met with Aquino to discuss the Mamasapano clash, to not give in to Malacañang’s news management.

Asked if the administration still considers Bello an ally, Valte said, “Perhaps the better question is: Does Representative Bello consider himself an ally of this administration?”

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