Inquirer, ABSCBN tend to project Duterte as “caricature of a berserk strongman over failed state,” Malacanang says
(Eagle News) — The Inquirer on Thursday took exception to President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks it was unfair in its coverage of him and his administration, saying it has “upheld the highest standards of excellence in journalism” since it was founded in 1985.
“Even as we’ve courageously pursued the truth in our coverage, we’ve endeavored to get the administration’s side of any controversy,” Jose Ma. Nolasco, executive editor, said in a statement.
In fact, Nolasco said the Opinion section of the newspaper runs “View from the Palace” every week, “where Cabinet officials expound on and explain the administration policy—and even the personality of the President himself.”
Nolasco did not address Duterte’s pronouncements, however, about what the President said was a slanted story that claimed that he himself had the poor killed.
Duterte appeared to be referring to the story titled “Duterte to poor: ‘I’m sorry if you die'” that came out in the newspaper on March 26.
“The Inquirer’s wide readership and hundreds of awards, prizes and citations from prestigious organizations here and abroad attest to its adherence to accuracy, fairness and balance in its reporting,” Nolasco said.
Media, “be more fair, unbiased”
But Malacanang defended Duterte’s tirades against PDI and ABSCBN, saying his was a “call for media to be more fair and unbiased.”
“,,,It is unfortunate that these two media outfits tend to project the president as a caricature of a berserk strongman over a failed state,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.
He said that the President, who had called PDI and ABSCBN “rude, vicious and virulent,” himself “agreed with the adversarial (antagonistic using PRRD’s word) role of media as check and balance against government abuses and venalities.”
“The President’s statement is a call for media to be more fair and unbiased. After all, nations succeed when all sectors maintain objectivity and fairness as they collaborate in nation building,” he said.
