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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Wednesday, November 8, 2017
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MANILA – “Do what is right and stay to the truth [sic]” were the two marching orders President Rodrigo Duterte gave him, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque stressed.
Roque was responding to calls for his resignation made by a pro-Duterte blogger.
RJ Nieto, who was behind the Thinking Pinoy blog, criticized Roque for highlighting the importance of the press during a briefing in Malacañang on Monday.
“I stated what I think is right, and I stated what I think is true,” said Roque. “I am a spokesperson, I deal with the Malacañang Press Corps, and I have long been an advocate of freedom of expression. I leave it at that.”
The Palace official assured that he considers criticism a motivation to do a better job.
“That’s the nature of this freedom. I do not deprive the social bloggers of their freedoms as well, and I take all the criticisms as valid inputs in the free marketplace of ideas,” he said.
In light of his threat to throw hollow blocks at Duterte’s critics, Roque brought the press pan de sal during the Monday briefing.
“I’m not saying that everyone is critical but I’m driving the point that you should not throw things at journalists, so I guess that’s why there is pan de sal,” he said.
Roque reminded Duterte supporters the importance of a free press.
“In due course, we could explain the manner na maiintindihan ng lahat na importante ang malayang pamamahayag,” he said.
Duterte won the presidency because the press exposed the failures of the previous administration, claimed Roque.
“Kaya ngayon, bigyan ng tinapay ang media,” the presidential spokesman said.
Roque also said he intends to meet with Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson to discuss the role of journalists.
“I’m always in contact with Asec. Mocha Uson because I really consider her as a friend and I really want Asec. Uson to … optimize [her] role … in the free marketplace of ideas,” the former congressman said.
With her more than 5 million followers, Uson has “so much potential” and “so much influence, and I would want that kind of influence be used toward nation-building,” Roque said./PN
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