A correction made by news agency Associated Press (AP) in its social media page on a story about the arrest of Rappler Inc. chief executive officer Maria Ressa proved that a political agenda was in play in the spins used on the issue, the Palace said yesterday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said in radio interview there are elements in the narration of the arrest order based on a cyber libel charge that show there was a “political agenda.”

“They also have their own advocacies but ‘not to the extent of destroying the government of the Philippines.’ They are trying to make it appear that there is a move to suppress press freedom which is completely wrong,” Andanar added.

The AP in a social media advisory said it deleted “a Wednesday tweet on journalist Maria Ressa’s arrest.”

It said the message it posted “incorrectly said she was arrested for criticizing Philippine President Duterte.”

The AP revision stated “authorities said she was arrested over a libel complaint, but Ressa argues the government misapplied the law to target her.”

Andanar said efforts should have been made to ensure “that the other side of the story is heard and, at the same time, that if there are substantive errors, that they should be corrected.”

He added the formation of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) was “precisely to ensure, to guarantee the safety of our journalists because the President respects, believes in the freedom of the press.”

“I would really advise the international press to get the side of Wilfredo Keng (who is the cyber libel complainant against Ressa) who is a businessman,” he said.

Andanar added the complaint of Keng was submitted to the Department of Justice (DoJ) which then filed it with the court and probable cause was found to arrest Ressa.

“As co-chairman of PTFoMS, I knew of journalists having several libel cases. Now you know, the law does not give priority to mediamen who are rich or poor. The law does not discriminate a person. So, whether you are a reporter of Rappler or a big news organization in Manila, and you’re a reporter of a small news organization in Jolo, Sulu or in Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga or in Capiz, Aklan, journalists’ rights and responsibilities remain the same,” he added.

“When the President announced that he was going to appoint me as Secretary of the PCOO, a few weeks after, a libel case was filed against me. Even if I was already announced as the incoming PCOO Secretary and even if I was working in a big network like TV5, I still have to travel all the way to Laguna to face my accuser and to clear may name, to go to court,” Andanar explained.

“So, what I’m saying is that, Ms. Ressa is no exception to the rule,” he said.

“So, you are given all of the leeway and you are given all of the legal remedies that you can get. Get a lawyer and go to the legal process and fight your case, that’s what it is all about,” he added.

The PCOO chief said the claim that what happened was against press freedom is a big mistake and is totally a lie.

He noted it was the judiciary that decided on the case.

“The Judiciary is an independent branch of government, and with the three branches of government, the Executive does not hold any control over the Judiciary, nor do we hold any control over the Legislative,” he said.

“And then they will just conclude that it was the handiwork of the Duterte administration.”

He dispelled fears of a crackdown on media, saying the actions taken by the President showed his full recognition of press freedom.

“Consider PTFoMS, which protects media workers. Haven’t they noted that after more than 30 years of struggle to have a Freedom of Information (FoI), it was only under this time that an Executive Order was issued for it?” he said.

“Why is FoI important for the media? Because the media fights for public access to information and the FoI traces the right to information as inscribed in the Constitution,” he explained.

“This was never done during the past administrations. Also, the PCOO now tours the whole country to look at conditions of news agencies and the media men and women,” Andanar stressed.