Palace exec blames media for spread of junta rumors

Nearly a week after receiving criticisms for raising the possibility of a military takeover in case of a failure of elections, a Malacañang spokesperson lashed out at media on Tuesday for starting it all. In a radio interview, deputy presidential spokesperson Charito Planas said the media blew the entire matter out of proportion, as they were in a jumble to make "headlines." "Tinanong ako kung sakali magkaroon ng failure of elections, ano ang mangyayari at sinabi ko walang failure of elections. E, kaya lang ang media gusto mag headline gusto magtanong (I was asked what would happen if elections fail. I said, there was no chance of that. But the media wanted a headline, so they kept asking)," Planas told radio dzXL. Planas said she repeatedly stressed at last week’s Palace interview that there will be no failure of elections.

Besides, she said, Sen. Edgardo Angara himself raised that "realm of possibility" of a leadership vacuum where there are no elected president, vice president and leaders of Congress in case of a failure of elections. "Reporter ang nagtanong kung sakaling walang elections, ano ang mangayayari. Di ko ang nag-suggest [na may junta], yan ay sagot sa katanungan (It was a reporter who asked about the possible scenarios. I never suggested a junta. I merely answered their questions)," Planas said. "There will be no failure of elections. It is impossible to have a failure of elections," she added. When asked if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had reprimanded her or called her attention on the junta mess, she said: "Di naman, wala namang pagsita (no, there was no such thing)." Last Monday two ranking military officials denied claims of a rumored plan for a junta, saying there is no such plan. [See: Arroyo mistahs deny junta rumors] Meanwhile, as rumors of a military takeover continued to spread, President Arroyo’s election lawyer on Monday proposed to the Commission on Elections to impose penalties on rumormongers. But Palace deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said that junta rumor is "in the realm of fantasy." [See: Penalties sought for persons spreading no-election rumors] — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV