Duterte renews tirades against ‘corrupt’ media

Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2019 22:58:48 +0000

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte accused Philippine media anew of being “corrupt” in the wake of an expose on the allegedly “significant” increase in his family’s wealth under his term.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) claimed that Duterte and his children, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio and former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte all became richer while in office and had several undisclosed business interests.

Speaking at a PDP-Laban campaign rally in Agusan del Norte, Duterte said anew that journalists were paid to criticize him.

“The Philippines will know how the media is so corrupt,” Duterte said.

In a speech during another PDP-Laban event in Bukidnon last Saturday night, Duterte alleged that these mediamen “accept [payment] from clients to [write] political attacks. ACDC [attack and collect money, defend and collect money].”

“You attack to get paid. So don’t believe that they are clean,” Duterte said in Visayan.

“You protect the rich and hide their secrets, but attack us politicians who genuinely want reform. That’s the truth. You are just being paid,” he said.

Duterte had said that his family’s business was not the concern of the public.

He also slammed the reports as “black propaganda” and that their writers were “paid hacks.”

PCIJ denied Duterte’s statements, saying it reached out to the family for comment before releasing the report but none was given.

“Public office is a public trust. How officials comply fully with the laws or don’t, whether they file ‘truthful and complete’ SALNs — every citizen’s business,” said PCIJ in a tweet a day after being criticized by Duterte.

SALNs are the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, which PCIJ cited in its reports.

In a previous speech, Duterte admitted that he had money but would “hide” it.

“Why will I tell you where I put [the money?] You are all idiots. Maybe I will be robbed. For money, I have money. Stupid,” Duterte said.

The President, however, said he would explain the alleged wealth “in due time.”

He also called the PCIJ expose as the opposition’s “trash.” RALPH VILLANUEVA

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