Gov. Arthur Yap clarifies that he did not issue any order preventing Capitol personnel from talking to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or the media.
The governor in a radio interview on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, over Newsmakers Ug Uban Pa, hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Gloria Araneta, said there is no such order preventing any person in the Capitol from speaking to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or the media.
The governor reacted to the information alleging that the provincial government is preventing its heads of offices to appear before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or interviewed by the media, saying that there is no order to that effect
“There is no gag order. The media is our partner,” the governor said in the radio interview.
As this developed, the governor said that the media is the provincial government’s partner in providing information to the public.
“If at all, we have an order to the provincial government [heads of offices] that when you report to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP)… I expect the head of agency is prepared,” the governor said.
The governor added more than often when a head of office is summoned to the SP, he/she is unprepared to answer the questions from the board members.
Moreover, the governor continued that an unprepared head of agency only wastes the time of the SP.
Yap said he merely asked for an advanced notice about the topic so when the head of office appears at the SP, he/she is ready to answer the questions.
Furthermore, the governor told Batoy and Araneta to let him know if there are personnel of the Capitol who refuse to be interviewed.