Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan questioned the announced caravan in European countries by the Presidential Communications Operations Office to clarify concerns on the state of press freedom in the Philippines. "Why is the government suddenly interested in clearing its name before the international community on the arrest of Maria Ressa when before, when before it has ignored criticisms on extrajudicial killings as a result of the drug war?" The case of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa would be one of the topics to be tackled in the caravan as PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar last Saturday said that officials would explain "why the Duterte administration had nothing to do with it." READ: PCOO to hold Europe caravan to explain to int'l media Duterte not behind Ressa arrestMeanwhile, Pangilinan questions how much of taxpayers' money will be spent on the trip. He urges the PCOO to use the country's meager resources judiciously.

Source: Philippine Star February 18, 2019 07:36 UTC