Singer Martin Nievera joins Malacañang Palace press conference for a day

Singer Martin Nievera joined the Malacañang Press Corps for a day. Photo via ABS-CBN.
Singer Martin Nievera joined the Malacañang Press Corps for a day. Photo via ABS-CBN.

What was singer Martin Nievera doing in the Philippine Presidential palace, Malacañang?

Members of the Malacañang Press Corps were surprised to see him at the regular press briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque yesterday.

It turned out that Nievera was there to supplement an interview he had with Roque for his new show at the ABS-CBN News Channel titled LSS With Martin Nievera.

Nievera and his crew captured a day in the life of Duterte’s controversial spokesperson and even managed to see what he had for breakfast.

It was chicken longganisa (Filipino chicken sausage), for anyone wondering.

Watch the video below. Nievera appears at the 24:25 mark.

Towards the end of the press conference, Nievera asked Roque some questions.

“How important is the Malacañang Press Corps to you?” the singer asked.

Roque, who has a volatile relationship with reporters, answered: “Very important. The job is because of the Malacañang Press Corps. It’s important that they deliver the message to the people. The message of the president is delivered to the people through them.”

The spokesperson once castigated GMA-7 reporter Joseph Morong when the latter asked a series of questions during the press briefing of the three Filipino fishermen who were harassed by the Chinese coastguard in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Malacañang had also barred Rappler reporter Pia Ranada from covering the president, and in a radio interview, Roque said: “That’s the price you [Rappler] have to pay for irresponsible journalism.”

Touching on President Rodrigo Duterte’s tendency to make incendiary remarks during public speeches, Nievera also asked Roque, “What’s your advice to the president when he speaks?”

Chuckling, Roque answered: “Stick with the prepared script. Although I have promised him I will look for better speech writers who will actually write speeches [that] he will actually read.”

In an effort to put him on the spot, Nievera asked: “Which [television] channel asks the best questions?”

“All of them ask the best questions. In fairness,” answered Roque.

The press corps also got to pose with Nievera, as shown in Morong’s tweets.

Morong also seemed happy to see Nievera at the briefing, and tweeted: “[I] told him I stay late at night to watch [his defunct television show] Martin After Dark haha.”

Yup, just another day in Malacañang.



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