Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita issued the denial to belie reports that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was upon orders by Malacañang to monitor editors and reporters from newspapers considered to be critical of the government.
"I never thought of it. The opposition may just be floating it to wedge animosity between the media and authorities. I don’t know (that there is) such plan whether media critical of the administration are being gagged," he said in a telephone interview.
Newspaper reports claimed that the NBI has an "initial list" of newspaper editors and reporters who were being monitored because they were purportedly highly critical of President Arroyo and her administration.
The alleged initial list, which was reportedly being "regularly updated" by the NBI operatives, includes four newspaper editors and seven reporters from three "critical" broadsheets and other tabloids.
The newspaper reports also claimed that these highly critical media practitioners will be immediately arrested and put to jail once the President places the country under a state of emergency and exercises her "martial-law-type" powers.
Ermita said the Arroyo government knows that while the Philippine media may be the "freest" and "liveliest" in Asia, it has learned to respect the media entities’ editorial policies and styles in reporting the news, especially on government’s excesses.
"Media has its way of handling news. We just have to deal with it," he said, adding that he knows that news editors and reporters could neither be dictated nor influenced by the government in writing or presenting their news stories to the people.
Since the political crisis broke last June 5, the Arroyo administration has adopted a policy of news containment in dealing with media reporting on the alleged excesses of the President and her family’s alleged involvement in illegal jueteng payoff scandal.
Mrs. Arroyo also made herself scantily available and accessible to media, relegating the task of official government pronouncements to her spokespersons and crisis managers.
Also yesterday, Malacañang said it will not interfere in the works of the Consultative Commission (ConCom) in studying, reviewing and recommending which particular provisions in the 1987 Constitution should be amended.
Ermita issued the categorical statement to dispel public suspicion that ConCom, whose members were personally handpicked by President Arroyo, would be a mere "rubber stamp" of the Arroyo administration.
"I don’t see how Malacañang will intervene. Let the ConCom do its job, wrap up with its job come Dec. 15 because they have not gone around provinces to consult the people in the provinces," he said.
"Only when they return will they be able to discuss the structure of the government, probably the transitory provision (to federal-parliamentary system). Only then we know what reaction the Palace would have," he added.
Some opposition lawmakers have criticized ConCom in reviewing the proposed Charter amendments, arguing that ConCom members are unnecessarily duplicating Congress’ sole authority to rewrite or propose changes in the Constitution.
Mrs. Arroyo gave ConCom until Dec. 15 to finish its work and submit to her its report on which particular provisions in the Constitution needed to be amended. ConCom report, upon approval of the President, will be forwarded to Congress.
