Duterte says he has lost faith in media

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has claimed to have lost his trust in the media as he scored journalists for picking up what he described as trashy allegations against his family.

Duterte said he would be choosy in granting media interviews because of reports linking his family to the narcotics trade.

“Hindi na ako nagpapa-interview ha. Choosy ako, choosy... (I don’t grant interviews anymore. I am choosy). I have completely lost trust in Philippine media,” Duterte told religious leader Apollo Quiboloy in an interview aired over Sonshine TV last Saturday.

“After all the trash that you have read, all of you. Even your child is accused of being a drug lord,” he added.

Duterte was referring to the allegations of self-confessed former drug syndicate member “Bikoy” that his daughter Veronica is benefiting from the narcotics trade.

Peter Joemel Advincula, the man who claimed to be “Bikoy,” has apologized for linking the Duterte family to illegal drugs. He also claimed to have been offered P500,000 in exchange for producing videos connecting the Duterte family to the narcotics trade. 

Duterte also accused some media practitioners of being paid hacks. 

“They are the ones who can write and they are the ones who can, you know, invent or do something outside of journalistic practices,” he said. 

“Outright extortion. There are a lot of them. As you have noticed in the matrix, the one involving Bikoy. Bikoy has retracted his statements. But the people know it’s not true,” Duterte added.

The President was referring to the matrix linking some media practitioners to the supposed plot to oust Duterte. The matrix, which was released by Malacañang last April, tagged media entities Rappler, Vera Files and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and lawyers group National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in the supposed ouster plot.

Officials have yet to present proof to substantiate the allegations against the lawyers group and media outlets. 

“Never mind about the criticism. With regard to the media, the matrix, all of them are paid hacks, believe me,” Duterte said.

Duterte hits Tordesillas

Duterte also claimed that Vera Files president and veteran journalist Ellen Tordesillas has been asking money from her sources because she has cancer. 

“Tagal na ‘yan sige pang hingi-hingi kasi may sakit daw siya – cancer. Hanggang ngayon, buhay pa rin (She has been asking for money because she has cancer. Until now, she is alive). So maybe tonight, we can pray together to pray for ano... Para hindi na maghingi (so she won’t beg anymore),” Duterte said.  

“When we pray, you pray for help for her recovery. But my prayer would be different ha. And you know, what you are thinking, probably that you’d pay – you’d pray would be exactly the opposite of that and that is my fervent... prayer,” he added. 

Tordesillas said she was shocked by the false information peddled by Duterte against her. She said she no longer has cancer and never asked money from other people.

“While I was undergoing treatment in 2003, I did not ask money from other people. The one who helped me was Jake Macasaet, the late publisher of Ang Pahayagang Malaya, where I used to work,” Tordesillas said in a statement. 

Tordesillas said two senators had written the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to credit the cost of her hospital room to their Priority Development Assistance Fund without her asking for it. 

“They did not give me cash,” the journalist said. 

Tordesillas said two politicians had given her cash but she gave it to the PGH Medical Foundation, which helps poor patients. She said she had sent the receipts of her donation to the two politicians.

“I always include the country in my prayers. I hope the truth will prevail in each one of us, including President Duterte,” Tordesillas said.