PMS blinks, allows scribes to Cabinet meets

She blinked.

Following a run-in with the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), Presidential Management Staff Secretary Victoria Garchitorena lifted yesterday her controversial order banning in-house writers of the Presidential News Desk (PND) from covering Cabinet meetings.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said he spoke over the telephone with Garchitorena yesterday, and suggested that it would be better if PND writers were allowed to cover the meetings on Tuesdays so that the media could have easier access to news releases churned out by the PND.

"There’s no turf war. She (Garchitorena) said she is giving the OPS the leeway to decide the deployment of PND (writers). Because of the problems, I suggested that it is better that way," Tiglao said.

"She was surprised over the controversy because for her, it was just a procedural matter," he said.

The PND is under the OPS headed by Noel Cabrera, who also supervises the Philippine Information Agency, the Philippine News Agency, the Media Affairs and Relations Office, the National Printing Office and all government-owned or controlled radio and television networks.

Garchitorena issued a verbal order three weeks ago banning PND writers, who draft news releases regarding presidential affairs, including those of her family members and related matters, from covering Cabinet meetings at Malacañang.

The PND writers were also allegedly prohibited by Garchitorena from joining President Arroyo’s out-of-town trips.

Tiglao earlier said the order was meant to plug "leaks" to the media regarding sensitive matters taken up during the Cabinet meetings.

It was also meant, he said, to decongest the meetings which all 24-Cabinet members, their staff and aides attend.

The PND staff resented the order, saying it effectively prevented them from performing their official duties and functions. – Paolo Romero