GMA clips powers of Palace press office exec

President Arroyo has clipped the powers of controversial Press Undersecretary Manuel Sanchez who earlier created a furor over his role at Malacañang.

Press Secretary Noel Cabrera said the President issued a memorandum last Jan. 14 clarifying Memorandum Order 49 handed down on Dec. 13 that gave Sanchez powers that overlap with those of the press secretary.

"It was unfortunate that MO 49 was really misinterpreted that it elicited fear, apprehension that there would be an infringement on press freedom, information dissemination would be centralized, news would be manipulated. We would act as censors. Nothing of that sort," Cabrera said in a briefing at the Palace.

"Maybe, this is also our fault. The language of the MO was not too clear. Certainly, the language of the MO could have been much better to avoid these misimpressions," Cabrera added.

Under MO 49, heads of departments, bureaus, offices and government-owned and controlled corporations were directed to coordinate and clear their press releases, advertisements and other messages with Sanchez before disseminating them.

It also authorized Sanchez to call on all heads of such agencies, including their public information offices to ensure that Mrs. Arroyo’s directive is strictly followed.

It was interpreted that Sanchez could bypass Cabrera and dictate to the needs of the agencies on what should come out in the agencies’ releases or advertisements.

The new memo reduced Sanchez to being a mere liaison officer with the press officers.

Cabrera said Sanchez will no longer have to call meetings with department or agency heads, but will be tasked to ensure that all department and agencies would have a working communication and media plan. –Paolo Romero