PIMENTEL DENOUNCES PALACES MOVE TO CONTROL MEDIA AD PLACEMENTS

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today assailed Malacañang s blatant efforts to suppress the publication or airing of media materials critical of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in violation of the freedom of the press guaranteed by the Constitution.

Pimentel questioned the Presidents issuance of Executive Order 511 which designated the Office of the Press Secretary as the clearing house for press materials and advertisements.

I denounce the media choking being perpetrated by the administration. The President signed yesterday Executive Order 511 placing the communications group under the Office of the Press Secretary. The OPS is now the clearing house for press materials and ads. No more media ads critical of Gloria, he said.