DAVAO CITY - President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will not hold press conferences in the meantime, his top aide said Friday, after his comments this week on killings of journalists drew widespread criticism from media organizations.

Duterte will be issuing statements via state-run People's Television Network (PTV-4), his chief of staff Christopher Go told reporters.

"As of now no presscon muna. Walang pagkakamali...Iko-course niya through state-owned station yung mga press releases at interviews niya," he said.

Go could not say if Duterte will grant informal or “ambush” interviews.

In his first press conference last Tuesday since being proclaimed winner of the May 9 elections, Duterte said some journalists were killed because they were corrupt.

“Kaya namamatay kasi karamihan diyan nabayaran na. They take sides or sobrahan ang atake, getting personal,” he said.

He stood by his statements in exchanges with reporters at a subsequent briefing on Thursday, despite criticism from local media groups and the Paris-based watchdog group Reporters Sans Frontieres.

Duterte also drew flak for catcalling a female television reporter during one of the press conferences. He said he meant no malice and was exercising his “freedom of expression.”