(Eagle News)—The Palace on Monday, Feb. 18, reiterated President Rodrigo Duterte does not personally know the businessman who filed cyber libel charges against Rappler, its executive editor Maria Ressa, and former reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated President Duterte’s statement anew after the Pinoy Ako Blog, known for its anti-administration stance, said Wilfredo Keng’s Century Peak Metals Holding Corp. had bagged government projects including a reclamation project in Cavite.
“Even assuming that those facts you stated are correct, it doesn’t follow that the President will know this particular person,” Panelo said.
According to Panelo, the President generally does not interfere in the activities of department heads.
If he does, Panelo said this was only if corruption was reported.
Ressa has said the charges and her arrest last week were an affront to press freedom, and proof the government was abusing its power.
But the Palace said it was actually Ressa who was abusing her power as a journalist, noting that she wanted to be treated in a different way.