President-elect Rodrigo Duterte Of The Philippine has sent a strong warning to the media in the country not to cross their boundary in his administration. Duterte who has faced backlash after his comment on the recent killings of journalist in the country, Duterte who showed no remorse about the killing said in Davao city;
Journalists think too much of themselves,” Kill journalism in this country. Stop journalism in this country, if you are worth your salt. If not, then I will think lowly of you. [That would mean] that you are cowards.
When he was asked to explain what he meant by those words, Duterte said that he was replying international journalists’ group, Reporters Without Borders, after they planned to boycott him for not feeling remorseful for the recent killings of journalists.
They can stop coverage in his city, and not the whole country.
I cannot stop you,I was saying, you idiots, do not threaten me. I said I’m ready to lose the presidency, my honor or my life. Just do not f**k with me. Go ahead, boycott me. I’m urging you: Make this trip your last to Davao City. I do not care if no one is covering me.
I’m telling the networks, do not come here. I do not need you… I would ask the Cabinet to avoid you.
He told reporters to cover him through the state network media, or the website dedicated to post information about his administration.
Duterte came under fire and draw global criticism after he reacted to a death of a journalist.
Duterte said that the journalist was killed because he was corrupt and not because of his profession, citing the case of the Jun Pala, the journalist killed in Davao City in 2003. In his speech, the president-elect said that he had also bribed journalist and also gave them favours too..
When told to apologise for the statement, he said;
No apologies. Bulls**t,