MANILA, Philippines — Sending Presidential Communications staff to Europe to "clarify" issues surrounding the Philippines is a junket and a bid to salvage the government's rights record, a human rights group said Tuesday. PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday said officials of his agency were sent to Europe to clarify issues confronting the government such as involuntary disappearances and anti-communist terrorist groups. “The arrest of Ms. Maria Ressa happened two days after the official delegation left for Europe. In any case, it is just natural for me to instruct the PCOO officials in Europe to answer possible queries about Ms. Ressa,” he said. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra explained that city prosecutors will be in charge of the cyber libel case in the proceedings at the Manila court.

Source: Philippine Star February 19, 2019 09:09 UTC