Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.
With the 2016 polls closing in, people are getting a little more sensitive about any move that could be tagged as “campaign-related.” That’s probably why the recent TV ads featuring government officials have drawn some flak.
“Malacañang on Tuesday, August 25, defended the appearance of Cabinet secretaries and government officials in television advertisements, saying this is part of their job as pubic officials,” reports Philippine News Agency.
During a press briefing at the Palace, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. had this to say about the government officials in TV ads: “Sila po ay gumaganap ng tungkulin nila bilang mga opisyal ng gobyerno (They are just doing their jobs as government officials).”
Coloma added, “Ang ginagampanan nila ay public education, public information. Nagpapaliwanag sila tungkol sa benepisyo at serbisyo ng[kanilang mga opisina]. At lahat ng ito ay naaayon sa batas (These government officials are just doing public education and public information. They are informing the public of the services being offered by their respective offices. It’s all permitted under the law).”
Among the government officials seen in recent TV ads are the following: Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Health Secretary Janette Garin, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva, and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. board member Risa Hontiveros.
Reader Interactions