Team DailyPedia
DAVAO CITY, Philippines. President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has revealed his plans to boycott the media for the duration of his six-year term following criticisms over his controversial remark on media killings.
After international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders announced its plans to boycott Duterte’s news briefings for apparently justifying the killing of “corrupt” journalists in the country, the incoming Philippine president said he will no longer grant interviews until the end of his term.
In a chance interview with TV 5 reporter France Noguera on Sunday, June 5, Duterte said, “I’m sorry, but I will really boycott.”
When asked until when the boycott would apply, Duterte said, “Until the end of my term.”
“That’s it. I don’t want to be interviewed. If I commit a mistake, there will be more criticisms. So it’s better (if there’s) no interview, no criticisms, no wrong statements, no nothing. (I will just) shut up. I really don’t want it.”
According to Duterte’s executive assistant Christopher Go, Duterte will no longer grant press briefings to minimize mistakes. In lieu of interviews, the next Philippine president will release statements and announcements on government-owned TV network PTV-4.
Duterte’s remarks about how he plans to address killing of media workers in the Philippines sparked outrage from local and international news groups and media organizations last week.
“Even if you are a journalist, you are not exempted from assassination if you’re a son of a bitch,” Duterte said in a press briefing.
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders urged fellow journalists to boycott Duterte until he gives a public apology to the media community. However, the outgoing mayor of Davao City refused to apologize and challenged the media to boycott his press briefings.
Watch the video.
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