NBI summons raises concerns among journalists who attended Sara Duterte’s presscon

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Three journalists appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division on December 4, responding to a subpoena for them to shed light on the threats made by Vice President Sara Duterte during an online press conference she had called.

The NBI emphasized that its purpose was only to gather information about what transpired during the press conference called by the Vice President Duterte. Assurance aside, such summons are disturbing. The event was called by a highly placed public official and was public in all circumstances. It would have been easy enough for the NBI to find out about the press conference without summoning journalists to testify. 

Being summoned by the NBI is always disturbing as investigations are often linked to dubious activity. In this instance, the summons can cause a chilling effect on the media who would have to answer questions about doing their job. The information the NBI sought could easily be gained by other means as the proceedings and what was said were probably recorded and transcribed. 

The invited reporters were from Rappler, The Manila Times, and the Philippine Daily Inquirer all assigned to cover the Office of the Vice President (OVP). 

The concerns of the NBI were provoked by Duterte’s disclosure on November 23 that she had left instructions that should she be killed, she had arranged for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the House Speaker to be killed. With such open references to killing plots, the NBI may have reason to investigate. But why should journalists attending a press conference be the object of their inquiry?  

NBI Director Jaime Santiago had earlier said that everyone who participated in the Zoom meeting, as well as the organizers of the press conference and even the owner of the Zoom platform would be invited for questioning to provide information about the circumstances leading to the Vice President’s threat. Santiago clarified that the NBI is just gathering information to understand what could have let the Vice President to talk about plots to kill her.  

The Vice President was rescheduled to appear before the NBI on December 11, but she didn’t show up then either; sending instead a lawyer and a letter to explain her absence. 

Santiago said that they invited only about 10 to 12 of the 20 journalists who actively participated in the Zoom meeting. Vloggers, including former Palace Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, have also been invited by the NBI.

Red Mendoza of The Manila Times said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol and Bilyonaryo News Channel that he was only doing his job when he covered the presser. “It’s our duty, we’re just there to ask questions. Hindi naman krimen ang magtanong kami (It’s not a crime to ask questions),” he said.

Most of the media did report the press conference and the participation of their colleagues. None of the reports referred to the context of the Vice President’s uneasy relationship with the press, and her animosity toward the media which is something she shares with her father, Rodrigo Duterte when he was President.

An earlier Rappler report pointed out that instead of responding to a legitimate query, the Vice President focused on who asked the question and explained her refusal to answer the question of Bonz Magsambol of Rappler. 

“I will not answer a question na si Bonz Magsambol ang nagsabi na, there is a violation of the JMC (joint memorandum circular). I will only answer kung nagsabi ang COA if there is violation of the JMC. Hindi COA si Bonz [Magsambol]. Hindi siya COA,” Duterte said, referring to the joint circular of the Department of Budget and Management on confidential funds. 

(I will not answer a question just because Bonz Magsambol said there is a violation of the JMC. I will only answer if COA says there is a violation of the JMC. Bonz Magsambol is not COA. He is not COA.)

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) noted that “there is no need” to summon journalists as the Facebook video has already been saved. The group added that the summons takes journalists from their work, or may provoke the hostility of Duterte supporters. 

“As in drug buy-busts and similar operations, NUJP believes that the best way for media workers to help with government investigations is through fair and accurate reporting as witnesses to our political history but not necessarily as witnesses in official proceedings,” it said.

Some of the Vice President’s supporters have already expressed hostility toward the media. Duterte’s followers may see the NBI summons as a sign of partisanship on the part of those invited – an impression that would be unfair as well as misleading. 

That impression would be unfair as well as misleading. These journalists were just doing their job, asking officials to answer their questions – it is part of the work they do and the synergistic relationship of the press with the government. Officials have a responsibility to explain themselves and should be accountable to the public for their words and actions. 

The NBI should find more effective ways of building up the big picture they are trying to understand. It is unfair to project the attendance of journalists at press conferences with the slightest hint of political color unless they have stronger evidence for the case.