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PH int’l communications strategy is to tell truth: PCOO chief

February 20, 2020, 3:29 pm

<p><strong>BRUSSELS ENGAGEMENT</strong>. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (4<sup>th</sup> from right), along with Philippine Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, His Excellency Eduardo Jose de Vega (3<sup>rd</sup> from right), and Assistant Secretary JV Arcena (7<sup>th</sup> from left), meet with the European parliamentarians, diplomats, and the Brussels-based international media. (<em>PCOO photo</em>)</p>

BRUSSELS ENGAGEMENT. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (4th from right), along with Philippine Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, His Excellency Eduardo Jose de Vega (3rd from right), and Assistant Secretary JV Arcena (7th from left), meet with the European parliamentarians, diplomats, and the Brussels-based international media. (PCOO photo)

BRUSSELS, Belgium —The Presidential Communications Operations Office’s (PCOO) international communications strategy is to simply spell out the truth during continuous engagements with the international community, Secretary Martin Andanar said.

“The strategy really is just to tell the truth. That’s the strategy. There’s no rocket science to it. It’s basically to engage, and we make you feel that the government is here,” Andanar said in a meeting with several European parliamentarians, diplomats, think tank experts, and foreign media at the Philippine Embassy in Brussels on Feb. 19.

He shared how the PCOO aggressively forwards accurate narratives on the Duterte administration’s policies, especially in the international arena.

“If you have criticisms against the government, we are here to listen and we are here to reason with you. It’s as simple as that. There’s no magic,” he said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, His Excellency Eduardo Jose de Vega said the Philippine is a free country.

"We are a democracy, and the judicial system works,” he said.

A delegation from the PCOO is in Europe to amplify the Duterte administration’s achievements and dispel misinformation about its policies, not only for the international community, but also for the Filipinos living abroad.

“We do not stop our responsibility to communicate with Filipinos outside the Philippines. We will dialogue with them,” Andanar said. “Millions of Filipinos are out of the country. The Filipino communities worldwide is a very significant community because these are thinking Filipinos. These are mature Filipinos who can influence their families back home.”

The meeting with various European groups tackled human rights, media freedom, the anti-illegal drug campaign, among others. (PCOO)

 

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