Palace: No gag on media

No, the President is not trying to muzzle the press.

Malacañang said reports that the Arroyo administration is harassing and trying to gag media, particularly journalists critical of government, are "unfounded."

"Reports that the administration is harassing the media are mere speculations. Right now, the media can do their thing," Press Undersecretary Milton Alingod said in a radio interview.

The Arroyo administration, Alingod said, upholds the freedom of the press, but he added that journalists should be responsible and prudent in performing their tasks.

"The media are free to report what they feel (theymust), although (the reportage must be) within the bounds of the law," he said. "The media should be seriously thinking if what they would be doing is the right thing."

Alingod made the assurance amid reports that Mrs. Arroyo berated television reporter GMA-7 Malacañang Tina Panganiban-Perez after she interviewed opposition Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, who has gone into hiding since the failed July 27 mutiny.

Alingod belied allegations that members of media have been put under surveillance. "Nobody is under surveillance. What happened to (Perez) was that she was, by chance, encountered by intelligence officers who are assigned to find the whereabouts of Honasan."

Mrs. Arroyo, accompanied by National Security Adviser Roilo Golez, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Narciso Abaya and other Cabinet members met GMA officials at the broadcast network’s head office in Quezon City Saturday, the station said.

"The President came to GMA to clarify with network officials that Malacañang never intended to pursue legal action against GMA reporter Tina Panganiban-Perez," the network said in a statement.

GMA president Felipe Gozon assured Mrs. Arroyo that the network would continue to act responsibly, adding that "the gesture of the President is much appreciated."

A Cabinet secretary, Marita Jimenez, told The Associated Press that the President’s remarks to Perez at a dinner Friday night were misinterpreted.

Jimenez quoted Arroyo as saying: "Does that reporter know that that interview was done during the time that the state of rebellion was still in place and that was tantamount already to abetting rebellion?"

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo said in a statement that the government "is resolved to uphold the freedom of the press," but is also "forsworn to uphold national security."

"We urge the press to be more circumspect in its reportage, as well as in the means to gather information, during times when the peace and order situation is threatened and the authorities are engaged in ongoing operations against persons suspected of being engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the duly constituted government," Saludo said.

The Philippine press is one of the most freewheeling in Asia. Reporters routinely interview pro-administration and opposition politicians, as well as spokesmen for Muslim separatists and communist rebels, most of the time airing the views live on radio and television.