MANILA, Philippines - Despite walking out on media last Monday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Delfin Bangit regards journalists as his “partners” and is supportive of efforts to keep the public informed, a military spokesman said.
“We acknowledge the media as our partner. Our appeal is for our media friends to convey the exact message to the target audience, to the general public,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said in a press briefing yesterday.
Burgos said Bangit understands that the media are just performing their duties as he respects their freedom of expression.
Burgos, however, claimed that the AFP chief did not intend to walk out in the media briefing.
“He said it is very clear that I have my PIO (public information officer) to answer your questions. It’s just that he has a scheduled (courtesy) call by the PMAAA (Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association). He had to rush to Camp Aguinaldo,” he said in Filipino.
The PMAAA event last Tuesday was held after the Philippine Army’s 113th anniversary celebration in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig. The PMAAA met with military officials to express their support for honest and peaceful elections.
Burgos said he has not spoken to Bangit about the reports on his walkout, which landed in the front page of some dailies. He, however, gave assurances that the AFP chief is not harboring any grudge against the media.
“He is not angry,” Burgos said.
“At this point, we need the support of everyone,” he said, referring to reports linking Bangit to supposed divisions within the military.
On Monday, Bangit abruptly left journalists who were interviewing him after a television reporter asked him about his supposed rift with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.
“You are sowing intrigues, that is the problem. If you do not say anything, you are wrong. When you say something, you will have a mistake. So my PIO will take care of everything,” Bangit said.
The AFP chief then left abruptly, surprising reporters.
In an interview in Camp Aguinaldo, Bangit claimed that some media reports are alarming the public. He said the media seem to take pleasure in misunderstandings within the military ranks.
Bangit a no-show at Task Force Hope
Bangit was a no show at yesterday’s conference of the National Task Force HOPE held in Camp Crame, further fueling speculations that there was a rift between him and Verzosa.
Bangit, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class’78 that adopted President Arroyo, has made a statement supporting her administration. On the other hand, Verzosa, PMA Class ’76, said he would not support the President if she decides to stay in power.
Rumors of a falling out between the President and Verzosa continue despite the strong denial of Malacañang, Bangit and Verzosa.
With the absence of Bangit in yesterday’s conference, Verzosa left the meeting shortly after he delivered his opening statement and refused to grant interviews.
‘Don’t shoot the messenger’
This was the unsolicited advice of Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial bet Rey Langit to Bangit who blamed journalists for reporting controversial issues in the military and in the government.
In defense of his media colleagues, Langit said that journalists should not be at the receiving end of someone’s ire since they were merely doing their job.
“He should not be too sensitive; what he did is conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman,” said Langit, noting that it was a female television reporter who pissed Bangit off. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jaime Laude, Jose Rodel Clapano, Edith Regalado