‘No more press cons’

‘DON’T MESS WITH ME’ President-elect Rodrigo Duterte makes one surprising statement after another, the latest of which is his attack on journalists who he says “think too much of themselves.” JEOFFREY MAITEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

DAVAO CITY—For foul-mouthed President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, no more press conferences for now.

After telling off the media on Thursday night and even encouraging Manila reporters to leave his city, Duterte has apparently decided to stick to his word for once: From now on, he will make his official announcements and statements only through state broadcaster.

Duterte’s executive assistant Christopher Go made the announcement on Friday night.

“There will be no more press cons (press conferences) for now so that there will be no more errors,” Go said.

He said Duterte would tap state-owned television station PTV 4 for his press releases and interviews.

READ: Duterte to make announcements only through state media

This week, Duterte has had to clarify his statements at press briefings at least twice after drawing widespread condemnation.

First, his camp said his statement on the murders of corrupt journalists, which made global headlines and drew international criticism, had been “misquoted and misinterpreted.”

READ: Spokesperson says Duterte did not justify media killings

Citing an example involving a journalist slain in 2003, Duterte said on Tuesday, “Even if you are a journalist, you are not exempted from assassination if you’re a son of a bitch.”

READ: Duterte: Media corruption root cause of journalists’ killings

Second, on Thursday night, he explained that his wolf whistle at television reporter Mariz Umali, taken as sexually suggestive, was innocent, and that he was merely “exasperated” by Umali’s question about his Cabinet.

Duterte invoked freedom of expression in justifying his wolf whistle, which Umali’s husband, journalist Raffy Tima, condemned on Twitter as inappropriate.

READ: GMA reporter scores Duterte for catcalling wife Mariz Umali

In what was supposed to be his last press briefing, the President-elect said late on Thursday that he was the least bothered by calls for the press to boycott him.

“I do not want publicity, you know that. It would be good if you just disappear,” he said.

Then he said he would just make his announcements through state media.

“Go and boycott me. I’m urging you make this trip to Davao City your last. I do not care if there’s nobody covering me,” he said.

READ: ‘Don’t fuck with me,’ he tells media

At one point, Duterte said: “I’m challenging you, kill journalism, stop journalism in your country, if you are worth your salt.  If you don’t, then I will think lowly of you. You’d be like cowards.”

Duterte later clarified his statement, saying he could not stop journalists who wanted to cover him, and that his “kill journalism” line only meant he would not be bothered if the media stopped covering him in his city. TVJ

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