THE government is still reassessing the case against blacklisted Hong Kong journalists who, after “badgering” President Aquino at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in Bali, now want to cover the 2015 Apec forum in Manila, Malacañang officials confirmed over the weekend.
Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. confirmed on Sunday that the Palace received information that the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency had asked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to blacklist at least nine HK journalists reported to have badgered Mr. Aquino in Indonesia for updates on the 2010 Luneta bus hostage crisis that killed seven Hong Kong tourists.
Coloma validated Deputy Spokesman Abigail Valte’s earlier statement affirming the Palace position for authorities concerned to “reassess” the case of the Hong Kong journalists seeking accreditation to cover the upcoming Apec forum to be hosted by the Philippines next year.
“Our position is that the exclusion should be reassessed given that there was no similar incident during this year’s summit,” Valte said on Saturday over government radio station.
Coloma said the media applications to cover the Apec events in Manila are being handled by the Presidential Communications Operations Office under him, adding that it has not started the accreditation process.
“Hindi pa po nagsisimula kaya wala pa po tayong tinatanggap at wala pa po tayong ipinupuwera na mga journalist na gustong mag-cover ng Apec Summit sa ating bansa sa susunod na taon,” Coloma said.
The Palace official explained that under existing laws, the BI has the authority to ban “for valid reason” the entry of undesirable persons or groups to the country.”
“Kaya ginamit lang po nila ang kanilang—sinunod lang po nila ang kanilang mandato sa batas at ‘yon ang hinihiling na mapag-aralan muli dahil mayroon pa namang sapat na panahon mula ngayon hanggang sa pagsisimula ng APEC 2015 events na maaaring daluhan ng ating mga kapatid sa pamamahayag,” Coloma said, assuring there is enough time to clarify the matter.