COMMUNICATIONS Secretary Martin Andanar on Wednesday called out state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) after it posted an article that described the ruling released by Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China Sea disputes as "ill-founded award."
Andanar said he already sent a memorandum to PNA, an attached agency of PCOO, seeking explanation on its latest blunder that seemed to promote China’s resentment over the arbitral court’s decision in favor of the Philippine government.
“We have already sent a memo to PNA to explain in writing why they should not be held liable for any administrative charges,” he said in a statement sent to Palace reporters.
“We will take appropriate action against liable PNA officials and/or staff if they are found to commit negligence in carrying out their duties and responsibilities,” he added.
Andanar’s statement came after the PNA posted on its website the article of Xinhua, China’s state-run news firm, that was titled "Time to turn a new lead on South China Sea issue."
The article, which was dispatched on PNA’s website on August 6, taunted the ruling of Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands with regard to China’s nine-dash line claims to the South China Sea.
The paragraph read: “More than a year after an ill-founded award at a South China Sea arbitration unilaterally delivered by an ad hoc tribunal in The Hague, the situation in the South China Sea has stabilized and improved thanks to the wisdom and sincerity of China and the parties concerned.”
On July 12, 2016, the international court backed the Philippine petition seeking to invalidate China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea.
Despite the ruling, the Duterte administration has maintained a “non-adversarial” approach as it wants to mend ties with the Chinese government.
Xinhua labeled the article regarding the sea disputes as “commentary” but the PNA failed to include such description. The Philippine government-run news agency had since removed the article from its website.
Andanar admitted the PNA’s mistake, saying that it should have made thorough scrutiny on articles coming from its partner news agencies.
"The said article was a repost from a commentary on Xinhua News Agency’s sponsored website xinhuanet.com, which the PNA maintains a partnership. Being the official press agency of the People’s Republic of China, it is understandable that most commentaries of Xinhua News Agency reflect China’s position on certain issues,” Andanar said.
“Thus, all reposts from Xinhua, and all other partner news agencies for that matter should undergo scrutiny and must be subject to discernment by PNA prior to reposting them,” he added. (VoxPop Philippines)
