Journalists banned from live reporting Duterte’s swearing-in ceremony as president
Cameras from state television will provide live footage from Thursday’s inauguration at Malacañang Palace because there is not enough room for media
Rodrigo Duterte has banned the media from covering his presidential inauguration tomorrow – a first in the Philippines’ recent history and something journalists fear will signal restrictions on freedom of information.
The public has also not been invited for the first time to personally witness the oath taking of a new president since democracy was restored in 1986.
Instead, all 14 cameras scattered inside Malacañang Palace’s Heroes Hall for the swearing in will be manned by state television PTV4. Broadcasters will pick up the feed, which will also be live-streamed by the social networking site Facebook, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar confirmed to the South China Morning Post.
Normally the grand scale event is open to the public and media in Rizal Park, Manila.
Andanar said he was able to negotiate with the organising committee that accredited television media would be permitted to use the palace lawn for piece-to-camera footage, instead of
outside the palace gates. The rest of the media will be corralled in two separate palace buildings far from the event and will watch the ceremony on large screens.