Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday said his claim that as much as $1,000 was given to journalists who covered the press conference of confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) leader Arturo Lasca帽as was not intended to taint the credibility of Senate reporters.
In a press briefing, Andanar noted that he did not allude to any reporter in his interview with CNN Philippines, where he made the accusation.
鈥淜ung tayo po ay tutungo sa official transcript, wala po akong ina-allude na reporter na tumanggap ng ganitong pera (I believe the transcript will bear out that while a monetary offer may have been made to attract coverage of the press conference, no member of our working press was alluded to as recipient),鈥� Andanar said.
鈥淚 was just pointing to the fact na may concerted effort to have a massive protest sa Edsa this Feb. 25,鈥� he added.
搁贰础顿:听Andanar says money offered to reporters
Andanar, who was a former news anchor and commentator, said he held Senate reporters are 鈥済ood reporters and they stuck with their credibility.鈥�
鈥淚t was not intended to say that Senate reporters are corrupt. Kilala ko ang mga reporters doon (I know the reporters there), I hold them in high esteem,鈥� he said.
In a statement, Senate reporters denied Andanar鈥檚 allegations and demanded a public apology for making such a baseless claim.
鈥淲e would like to ask the Secretary to prove his allegations as such statements placed our credibility and our respective media entities under a cloud of doubt.聽Otherwise, we demand a public apology from Secretary Andanar for spreading 鈥榝ake news,鈥� truly unbecoming of someone who, just a few months ago, came from the media industry,鈥� they said.
搁贰础顿:听Senate media blast Andanar for 鈥榠rresponsible鈥� bribery claim
Lasca帽as, a retired Davao City policeman, resurfaced in the Senate on Monday and retracted his previous testimony on the infamous DDS. He backed the earlier testimony of another confessed DDS member Edgar Matobato and tagged President Rodrigo Duterte in vigilante killings in the city, including the death of Davao journalist Jun Pala in 2003. CDG