Kinontra ng Malacañang ang pahayag ni Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa sa isang interview na mas masahol pa sa isang war zone ang Pilipinas at parang nabubuhay sa impiyerno sa loob ng nakalipas na taon.
Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo na ‘exaggerated’ si Ressa dahil hindi naman ganito ang totoong sitwasyon sa bansa.
Maituturing lamang aniyang war zone ang bansa para sa mga sangkot sa iligal na droga at sa mga lumalaban sa mga awtoridad sa tuwing may buy-bust operations o kapag sinisilbihan ng warrant of arrest.
“She is always exaggerated. Its is only a war zone to those who are inviolved in drugs and who resist violently any warrant of arrest being served to them, or when they are subject to abuy bust operation and they violently resist as well as imperil the lives of the law enforcement officers,” ani Panelo.
Batay sa interview ni Ressa sa CBS noong Linggo, inilarawan ni Ressa ang Pilipinas na mas masahol pa sa war zone para sa mga media, at ang ginawang pag-aresto sa kanya ay para patahimikin umano ito ng Duterte administration.
“As safe as you are…that’s their belief, but the fact is, every journalist whether here or abroad is free to cover any event here in this country and they come out alive and well, and very good at reporting even if at sometimes exaggerated,” dagdag ni Panelo.
Binuweltahan din ni Secretary Martin Andanar ng Presidential Communications Office of the Philippines si Ressa na source ng fake news gaya ng iba pang miyembro ng oposisyon na nagpapakalat na mga maling balita tungkol sa Duterte administration.
“Rappler and Ms. Ressa, herself, have been deemed to be sources of fake news just as some government oppositionists lie and claim that the government spreads propaganda,” sabi pa sa statement ni Andanar.
“Cases filed against her and Rappler were for the violation of Anti-Dummy Law, tax evasion charges, and a cyber libel case field by a private indibidual that have nothing to do with the administration.” (Aileen Taliping/ Prince Golez)