With reference to the press release issued by the Journalists’ Committee regarding access granted to a TVM crew on board an AFM Patrol Boat patrolling near the Spanish trawler Francisco y Catalina, PBS said that it denied being given preferential treatment.

In a signed statement, PBS news manager and registered editor Sylvana Cristina said that the press release was incorrect in assuming that the AFM “handpicked” PBS to impart information and was “selective” in granting media access.

She said that it was PBS journalists who took the initiative on Tuesday morning and requested parliamentary secretary Tony Abela and the AFM to be granted access to board the patrol boat following a story of such national and international importance.

Ms Cristina said that in spite of the fact that PBS had taken the initiative; the AFM still distributed photographs of the trawler and the immigrants equally to all stations and media organisations on Tuesday evening.

She said that the PBS crew accepted to join the Armed Forces on a condition of embedment and signed away any claims that could arise out of the journey.