President Rodrigo Duterte graces the 9th anniversary of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in Davao City on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. (Photo from an RTVM video)
MANILA, Philippines鈥擯resident Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said there鈥檚 nothing wrong with the Presidential Communications Operations Office鈥檚 (PCOO) press freedom caravan in Europe as long as the government funds are properly accounted for.
鈥淚 do not tinker with the decisions of how to do it, do it better, and do it more, better than聽the rest鈥asta wala lang corruption and the funds are properly accounted,鈥� Duterte told reporters in an interview in Malaca帽ang.
The President also emphasized his office鈥檚 need for a 鈥減ropaganda division鈥� in defending the controversial European trip.
鈥淲e have to have a propaganda division. You know it鈥檚 a political entity, itong presidency and of course all others,鈥� he added.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier said the caravan, which involved key PCOO officials,聽would serve as a forum聽to clarify issues confronting the Duterte administration, including the arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa over cyberlibel charges.
The caravan, however, prompted several lawmakers to question its real intention.
Sen. Grace Poe said there鈥檚 no need for the PCOO to organize such a caravan just to explain Ressa鈥檚 arrest, saying it聽should simply let the court decide on the case.
READ: Palace backs Andanar on 鈥榩ress freedom caravan鈥� to Europe
Malaca帽ang, for its part, said聽the trip was 鈥渕eaningful and fruitful鈥� and had 鈥渘othing to do鈥� with the arrest of Ressa.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo explained that the delegation was tasked to 鈥渄eliver crucial information and campaigns of the government鈥� to Filipinos abroad and members of the international community.