Secretary Ernesto Abella (here pictured with DENR secretary Gina Lopez) is one of two primary voices behind a press briefing at Malacañang Palace. (Photo courtesy of the Presidential Communications Operations Office)
Press briefings at the Malacañang Palace tend to be underappreciated by the media.
The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte features two men who represent him during media engagements at the Palace. On one corner, there is presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, and on the other corner, there is Presidential Communications Operations Office chief Martin Andanar.
Both men have the responsibility of speaking with the media in behalf of President Duterte. Much of the conversation is usually directed on top media stories that affect the country, such as natural or man-made calamities, political controversies, and even the health of the President himself.
While the two are the primary voices of the Palace press briefing, they are also accompanied by other members of the Cabinet. They are here to discuss certain other issues that require immediate resolution.
Unfortunately, such live events are not taken for granted by a majority of media outlets in the country. Apart from the Radio-Television Malacañang (RTVM) which handles all live coverage involving the executive branch, only government station PTV-4 and private news network ABS-CBN News Channel have the privilege of bringing them live.
So where is the love as far as Palace press briefings are concerned? For some news networks, it seems like the appearances of Secretaries Abella and Andanar do not mean a thing, and that their only concern is with President Duterte himself.
Before making a negative reaction, here is the reason why news networks should also look at Secretaries Abella and Andanar. Their responsibilities as spokespeople behind the President are just as important in relaying information and opinion to both the media and the general public, even if they lack the powers that the President possess.
That said, the news media must carry these press briefings since these are deemed significant items to write about. After all, the President may be the country’s most powerful person, but even he/she can be human at times.
Overall, a press briefing at Malacañang Palace is just as necessary to cover as President Duterte’s speaking engagements. Whatever words Secretaries Abella and Andanar relay to the media will determine the country’s fate moving forward.
From the Tube 
It’s either UNDERAPPRECIATED or UNAPPRECIATED.
For eight months now, these
spin doctorsmouthpieces are making the press and ordinary people dizzy. For every unfiltered remark from his boss’ mouth, they clarify thereafter like a broken tape.A week ago, Abella contradicted his colleague Andanar over the pledged aid to the victims of the Surigao quake. Let me call spade a spade, we have too much Sean Spicers and they inflict themselves to self-destruction and destabilization to endure for the rest of his term.
Anyway, regarding the specific topic, I posted the notorious lack of engagement over IBC 13. They used to simulcast the briefings but this year, they didn’t and resort to the adverse and abysmal sloth of home shopping.
With the way you commented, it seems like Palace press briefings are either important despite the seeming confusion (at least for ANC and PTV) or nonsensical. Still, that’s what they do even if it makes us dizzy.
As for IBC though, the government appears to have stopped supporting them since they’re now trying to privatize the network. Such a shame.
CNN Philippines has also carried press briefings, either on TV or FB live, but limited to hearings on very important issues
Hence, not all of them.
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