MALACAÑANG promised Monday to be more circumspect about releasing information after its Official Gazette earned the public's ire because of its Facebook post, describing how the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos ruled the country.
In an interview, Communications Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III maintained that the Official Gazette, which he said "is devoid of political color," has no intent to rewrite Philippine history.
Cualoping stressed that it only "conveyed what is documented in the official records [and] updated materials to keep it as historically accurate as possible."
He, however, admitted that the Gazette was acknowledging the "lapse" it had committed.
"The Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines is devoid of any political color and affiliations. Likewise, I would like to reiterate that there has been no revision of history and there will never be," Cualoping said.
"We got wind and we were informed of the comments on social media late last night and we adjusted and edited the caption immediately. This is a learning lesson from us and we will improve accordingly, based on efforts to have a streamline national communications policy," he added.
On Sunday, the Gazette was under fire following its post on Facebook commemorating the late president’s birthday, saying that Marcos had declared Martial Law “to suppress a communist insurgency and secessionism in Mindanao.”
"In 1986, Marcos stepped down from the presidency to avoid bloodshed during the uprising that came to be known as 'People Power,'" the post added.
The Official Gazette has since revised the original post.
Cualoping, who has the final say for the uploading of the pro-Marcos post, personally apologized, as the communications’ team had not been “prudent enough” before posting such caption.
“I think, the apology would not be from the office but me personally. I think the apology would be more of because we are not prudent enough, perhaps. We are not circumspect in terms of writing the accompanying copy,” he said.
“It will not happen again. I make a commitment that it won’t happen again,” Cualoping added. (Sunnex)
