Palace Shrugs Off “Person of the Year” Award by TIME Magazine
PALACE – The Palace spokesperson Salvador Panelo shrugged off the journalists who are labeled by Time magazine’s “Person of the Year”.
Rappler’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maria Ressa is one of the most outspoken critics in the Philippines. She was also a former broadcaster in Southeast Asia for CNN.
She targets President Duterte “War on Drugs” campaign which caused a thousand deaths of people who are dealers and users.
Maria Ressa of Rappler is among the Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” for 2018. She’s listed as one of the brave columnist and journalist who attacks its government.
These journalists called themselves as “The Guardians,” they reveal the truth and speak out for the people who are afraid speak up against their government.
On Ressa’s Twitter account, she expressed her gratitude to the magazine for her inclusion on the “guardians”
Based on a report from Philstar, the Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo ignored Maria Ressa’s “Person of the Year” award.
Panelo said the Duterte does not restrict any journalist in reporting anything. Even though they still criticizing them, they are not punishing anyone.
“Nobody has been prosecuted for criticizing the administration,” Panelo said.
According to the report, Maria Ressa stated that the government was behind the attacks on her news media company. She was previously accused of tax evasion because her company was allegedly owned by a foreigner.
Panelo reacted that the palace has nothing to do on their tax evasion issue and there is no reason for her to blame them.
“The court had found probable cause that is precisely (why) they are now being tried,” said Panelo.
Based on the report, Salvador Panelo shrugged off the recognition of the journalist for its the choice of certain people in the broadcasting world.
“Whether we agree or not, it doesn’t matter, that’s the award of a particular organization,” Panelo added.
The palace and President Duterte is certain that they are not attacking Ressa and her company. They are not intimidated with the award she recently received.
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