Secretary Marita Magpili-Jimenez of the President’s Priority Programs and ODA Projects today clarified that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did not berate GMA 7 television reporter Tina Panganiban-Perez over the latter’s interview with Sen. Gregorio Honasan.

Jimenez, who was among those present during the dinner Friday night in Oriental Mindoro, said the President discussed with Ms. Perez the situation in which the reporter might find herself. The reporter was encountered by chance by intelligence assets assigned to determine the whereabouts of Honasan, who is suspected of being involved in the failed coup last July 27.

Jimenez said the President and Perez were in talking in soft voices that another television station even had to use subtitles during its report of the incident.

Jimenez added that the issue of Honasan cropped up when the President asked Perez if the reporter had interviewed Maj. Gen. Alfonso Dagudag, commander of the Southern Luzon Command, who recounted his experience in the service during the time when Honasan was still with the Armed Forces.