MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang does not believe in silencing media and instead wants journalists practice self-restraint, self-discipline, and self-regulation when covering crises similar to the August 23 Manila hostage-taking drama.

In an interview with the ANC’s Top Story on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said the Palace and media organizations have approved coverage guidelines that will be implemented during crises. 

Palace Communications Group officials and journalists agreed during a dialogue to apply 4 “generally accepted” points: 

- an expanded “safety zone” for media and the public, 

- have journalists refrain from involving themselves in hostage negotiations, 

- delayed broadcast of reports, and 

- the appointment of an official spokesperson for the government, police and the military who will relay information to media. 

“These reflect sentiments of (media leaders) we talked with,” Coloma said.

‘No prior restraint’

He added that the Palace does not want to impose prior restraint on media. 

"We would not actively support any legislated restrained as this is contrary to the policy and philosophy of our president," he stressed in media briefing Tuesday. 

"I think they owe it to themselves to observe the guidelines that they are drawing up for themselves in keeping with their professional standards, sense of responsibility, in keeping with the ethical standards of their profession and we trust that they will act accordingly," he said.  

In explaining the need for journalists to keep their hands off crisis negotiations, Coloma said hostage talks “require professional training and professional background.” 

“It may be hazardous as we have already seen to allow members of media to communicate directly with the hostage taker and it might impede police operations," he added.

With regard to suspending live telecasts of hostage-taking incidents and similar situations, the PCOO chief said media should not air footage of police and military operations. 

"Troop movements should not be monitored live as it will impair the operations that are being conducted," Coloma said. 

"The direction is really towards these organizations imposing upon themselves appropriate measures in order to ensure the conduct of these media practitioners would not impair police and security operations," he added.  – with a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News