Senate President Vicente Sotto III has raised concern that the state-run People's Television Network (PTV) might be used to advance the political bids of administration candidates for the 2022 elections.
"Medyo nagiging crucial ang role ninyo (You will have a crucial role) because of some information that have reached the Senate," Sotto told the PTV at the Senate finance subcommittee's deliberation of the Presidential Communication Operation Office's (PCOO) proposed 2022 budget on Monday, September 27.
"That in the 2022 elections -- I'm going to be very blunt about it -- you're going to be used somehow, some way. So we're just trying to make sure that you have a clean slate. Para hindi kayo mapagbintangan, hindi ba (So you would not be accused as such)?" he added as he inquired about issues that hounded the network.
Sotto will be running for vice president, a post also eyed by President Duterte, who already signed the nomination of the faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
The Senate chief, among others, asked about the PTV's policy for employees who voice out views against the Duterte administration.
"How will the people trust your station to report balanced and factual news if this is happening in your own backyard?" Sotto asked, citing the alleged termination of a host who opposed the shutting down of ABS-CBN last year.
"Press freedom is something I truly value...That's why I'm now concerned," he said.
PTV general manager De Castro explained that the PTV employee "resigned" from the network, even as previous reports quoting the host said he was demoted and was told that his contract would no longer be renewed.
De Castro added PTV-4 also airs news items that are critical of the President, and that "everytime the President is about to say something against whoever, we try to practice fairness by making sure we get the side of the other person involved".
But she conceded that the government network is still working to achieve editorial independence.
"We have to admit that PTV has long been struggling with its image in terms of being a propaganda arm of the government," De Castro told the Senate panel.
"That said, isa po sa mga sinusulong namin sa PTV-4 ay ang pag-implement po ng (one of the programs we are pushing is the establishment of the) People's Broadcasting Corporation wherein this one would be very independent in terms of editorial decisions. This is already in the House of Representatives," she said.
Senators have flagged the surge in the PCOO's contractual workers, whom they suspect of being engaged in troll farms.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also questioned the creation of a social media office thru a department order.
PCOO officials denied that they hired trolls.