President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will no longer hold press conferences as of the moment after the recent controversies involving him and the country’s national news media. The president-elect embroiled in controversies when his statement was sensationalized by some national media who did not focus on his press release but on his mistakes. The announcement was released to the media by Bong Go, the executive assistant of Mayor Rody Duterte.
According to Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go there will be no news conferences by the president-elect, for now. He was quoted as saying “Sa ngayon, wala nang press con para wala nang mali,” Go stated.
The 71-year-old outgoing mayor of Davao City, President Rody Duterte irked media groups when he said during a press conference in Davao City that slain journalists are often engaged in corrupt activities. Instead of focusing on the announcement regarding the new members of Mayor Duterte’s Cabinet, the issue was diverted to his statement against the media.
Aside from the controversial statement of Mayor Duterte against slain journalists which was sensationalized by some of the country’s major news media organizations, Mayor Duterte was also targeted by some media personnel when he allegedly catcalled GMA News anchor and reporter Mariz Umali.
Mayor Duterte already explained that his whistling during the question and answer portion with the journalist was not intended for Mariz Umali and he was just exercising his freedom of expressions. His executive assistant Bong Go revealed that the mayor will now focus on other matters and holding a press conference is not one of them as of the moment.
The incoming President was also attacked by the country’s national media on their headlines and on Thursday night he berated the media for supposed threats of a boycott, daring them to do so.