MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Communications Operations Office’s (PCOO) ongoing press freedom caravan in Europe is not to solely to explain to the European media the “real nature” of the cyberlibel case against Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar insisted Monday. Andanar explained that the PCOO officials sent to Europe were part of the government’s delegation to clarify issues on “involuntary disappearances” and anti-communist terrorist groups, among others. He also pointed out that the delegation left for Europe two days before the arrest of Ressa, but he instructed the PCOO officials to answer queries about Ressa. 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. Andanar said the PCOO team was composed of Undersecretaries Lorraine Badoy and Joel Egco and Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 18, 2019 11:15 UTC