Has Malacañang engaged in censoring or suppressing information on President Duterte's speeches and pronouncements in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the ABS-CBN franchise controversy?
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Malacañang has not imposed a policy of editing President Duterte's speeches released to the public.
Roque made the statement in the wake of concerns raised on why the President's July 13 speech in Jolo was edited to cut out his comments about the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN network and other business and media entities.
Duterte went to Jolo last Monday to meet government troops following the fatal shooting of four soldiers by cops. It was in this assembly Duterte declared that he can die happy after dismantling the country's oligarchs without declaring martial law.
Roque explained that he was not present during the President’s visit to Jolo but insisted there is no deliberate move to modify Duterte's speech prior to public release.
"Hindi ko po alam kung edited iyan. Unfortunately, hindi po ako nakasama (I don’t know if it was edited. Unfortunately, I was unable to join the visit)," Roque said Tuesday when asked about the President's edited speech in Jolo.
"Hindi naman po iyan policy (That's not a policy). I don’t think there’s ever a policy in that regard," Roque added.
The Palace released a shorter edited version of the President's remarks in Jolo a day after his visit, releasing the video and transcript to the public. Journalists have asked the Palace to release the President's full speech for transparency but the request has fallen on deaf ears.
An audio recording of the President's speech where he blasted ABS-CBN network, the two Metro Manila water firms, and other entities over alleged abuses was later leaked online.
In the unaired portion of his speech, the President said he is “extremely proud" of himself that he dismantled the “bedrock of oligarchy" in the country.
"'Yun namang ABS-CBN, binaboy ako. Pero sinabi ko kapag ako nanalo, bubuwagin ko ang oligarchy ng Pilipinas. Ginawa ko (ABS-CBN has defiled me. But I said when I win, I will dismantle the oligarchy in the Philippines. I did it)," Duterte said in the unaired portion of his speech in Jolo.
"Without declaring martial law, sinira ko yung mga tao na humahawak sa ekonomiya at umiipit at hindi nagbabayad. They take advantage, sa kanila political power (Without declaring martial law, I destroyed the people controlling the economy, who are not paying their due. They take advantage of political power), he added.
The President also slammed the Lopez-owned network over alleged discrepancies in their Quezon City property declaration as well as acquiring "tax-free" equipment. "Yung mga lokohan na," he added.
Another line removed from the President's speech was his criticism about the Lopez family supposedly having holding companies in the Cayman Islands and Hungary.
"Kunwari, may ano sila, may investment sila doon. Padala sila ng pera. Pero 'yung investment na 'yan, wala na. ‘Yung pera, hindi na 'yan babalik. Kaya walang taxes (They supposedly have an investment there. They will send the money but that investment is gone. The money won't come back so there are no more taxes) and to think that they talk and they play God over the lives of the Filipino," he said.
The Palace also removed the President’s tirade against other groups including businessmen Manny Pangilinan, the Ayalas, the Consunjis, Rappler and communists, in his speech aired on state tv last Tuesday.
He said he does not know how these businessmen will "pay the Filipino” as he deplored the controversial water concession deals.
"Wala na akong away sa kanila. I have accepted their apology but 'yung akin, 'yung ano ko lang – 'yung galit ko lang (I have no fight with them anymore. I have accepted their apology but for my part, I am angry)," he said.
Roque declined to comment on the supposed full speech of the President.
"I will not comment on an alleged transcript that I have no personal knowledge of," he said over ANC's Headstart Wednesday.
"I really have to hear the President when he addresses the crowd to make sure I understand the context. Unfortunately, I was not in Jolo,” he said.