Andanar: PCOO Officials Sent to Europe, Part of NTF to End Communist Armed Conflict

Communications Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin M. Andanar stressed that officials of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) sent to Europe are part of the government’s official delegation to clarify the issue on “involuntary disappearances,” anti-communist terrorist groups, among others.

In a statement issued Monday (Feb. 18), he clarified, PCOO, being a committee member of the National Task Force (NTF) to End Communist Armed Conflict pursuant to Executive Order 70, provides communications support in terms of messaging and content to the anti-Communist Terrorist Groups efforts.

“The engagement of PCOO in the NTF alongside relevant agencies of gov’t in the security cluster is necessary in the adoption of a National peace framework as directed by the President by putting together the context, messaging and communication plan for the whole-of-nation approach to be executed by the NTF,” Andanar, in his statement said.

To maximize the official trip, the PCOO delegation found it an opportune time to bring the Press Freedom Caravan in Brussels and Geneva.

“The Communications Department has been holding Press Freedom caravans locally and internationally to bring government closer to Filipinos even those in the international community,” Andanar said.

The first caravan in a foreign country was conducted in Bangkok, Thailand last January 2019.

Andanar said the caravan is a side event in-between official meetings with officials from the EU Parliament, Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), European Commission, and leaders of the Filipino community.

The Secretary also clarified a radio interview regarding the arrest of Maria Ressa, the chief executive officer of Rappler, that was taken out of context.

“My radio interview was taken out of context. I only used Ressa’s case as an example of what might be raised in the caravan; We didn’t know much about the Ressa case when we prepared for this trip,” the Secretary said.

He clarified that the arrest of Ressa happened two days after the official delegation left for Europe.

“Nobody from the delegation was aware it was coming. In any case, it is just natural for me to instruct the PCOO officials in Europe to answer possible queries about Ms. Ressa,” Andanar said.

He assured the public that no public funds are wasted in the official mission which came about from a directive from the National Security Council.

“All engagements in Bosnia, Brussels and Geneva are all part of PCOO mandate to deliver and disseminate information relation to policies, programs, and achievements of the President and Executive Branch,” he assured.

He bared that the PCOO may also set up and maintain local and international field offices to ensure that accurate information from the President and the Executive Branch is promptly and efficiently relayed. (PIA)