No surprises here.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano expressed his displeasure yesterday at a documentary produced by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) about President Rodrigo Duterte, which he called “an anti-Duterte propaganda” piece.
The documentary, titled Philippines: Democracy in Danger, was aired on Sept. 29. It portrayed Duterte as an increasingly authoritarian leader who enjoys popular support among many Filipinos. It also painted the president as someone who refuses to tolerate dissent whether from other politicians or members of the media.
BBC News Philippines correspondent Howard Johnson also interviewed Duterte critics such as former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. He also spoke with Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and reporter Pia Ranada, whom Duterte barred from covering him in Malacañang Palace.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6kIHzzJ-pM
The documentary also showed Johnson reading a letter he received from jailed Senator Leila de Lima where she reportedly wrote that the president has turned the country into “a gangster state.” De Lima was jailed over allegations that she extorted money from prisoners which was reportedly used to fund her election campaign.
In his statement, Cayetano slammed the documentary. He said that it was “an anti-Duterte propaganda more worthy of tabloid journalism and gossip.”
He added that the president’s drug campaign is actually making the country better, contrary to what the BBC reported.
He said: “The episode misleads viewers about President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s anti-illegal drug strategy, which is actually making Philippine society safer, healthier, and more prosperous.”
The government’s anti-drug campaign has left more than 12,000 people dead according to Human Rights Watch. Two complaints have been filed at the International Criminal Court against Duterte in connection with the killings that were committed as part of the drug war. But according to the police, many suspects were killed because they fought back.
Cayetano also said that the government followed the law in its controversial decisions like the removal of Sereno from office, the jailing of de Lima, and the voiding of Trillanes’ amnesty.
He said: “The rule of law has been upheld in all three cases. They are not, as the report unfairly alleges, victims of any crackdown on the political opposition. The report also failed to mention the obvious: all three remain free to criticize the Duterte Administration.”
Cayetano then asked for unbiased reporting from the BBC. He said: “In the interest of fair and objective reporting, therefore, we urge the BBC to present an accurate and balanced view of issues about the Philippines in the future so that its audience can make its own assessment of the health of our democracy.”
Cayetano, a former senator, was Duterte’s vice presidential running mate in the 2016 elections but he lost to opposition party candidate Leni Robredo.
Several netizens appear to agree with Cayetano.
On a YouTube account which shared the report, a netizen using the name melmar701 said the documentary was “very slanderous, very inaccurate.”
On a Facebook account where the documentary was reposted, JC Tan suspected that the documentary was part of the alleged Red October plot, which according to the government, aims to unseat the president from power.
Tan also called Duterte “the best president in the world.”
On the same account, Mary Jane Ros had a different opinion.
She wrote in Filipino and English: “I’m a teacher who wants things to change in our government that’s why I’m one of the 16 million who voted for Duterte but now I’ve realized that I chose the wrong president. Like what Bituin Escalante said, I love the Philippines more.”
The poster is referring to singer Bituin Escalante who appears to have regretted voting for Duterte.
Danilo Marcilla thought BBC did a good job with its report.
What do you think about the BBC’s documentary? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.
