‘Rody’s wrath at ABS-CBN won’t affect Gina’s reappointment’

MANILA, Philippines -  President Duterte’s latest tirades against ABS-CBN should not be seen as an indication that he will not reappoint Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, a scion of the family which owns majority shares of the television network.

“I think those are two separate matters,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said when asked about Lopez’s chances following Duterte’s rant against the television network.

He pointed out the President can clearly make a distinction between his anger at what he perceives as biased reporting and the issues surrounding Lopez.

“There will be none. As far as we can see, he can be quite objective about these things and he’s able to compartmentalize certain matters,” he said.

Pressed further if Lopez will be reappointed after she was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments before it went on recess last March 17, Abella said the decision would be up to the President.

“Well, if the President so sees fit, then he will,” he added.

Abella, however, does not think Duterte will pursue charges against another media entity – Philippine Daily Inquirer – which was also a target of his wrath last Thursday.

Abella said the President has more important things to do than pursue charges. 

He said Duterte was just airing his discontent about the two media firms’ coverage, which Malacañang said “leans towards malice.”

“I don’t think he will be filing a formal complaint. But I think what he complains about is the question of fairness in the sense that, for example, some matters are framed in a particular way that caricatures his situation or caricatures certain situations,” Abella said.