MANILA, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Tuesday renewed her appeal to the media to be responsible and not become instruments to bring down the government.

    During her interview over local radio DZBB, Arroyo said she was not expecting journalists to praise her all the time but their criticism must not be seditious.

    "I am firm believer of democratic principles. But I also believe that we should stop those people who abuse their freedom so the time would not come for them to perpetuate themselves in power and destroy our independence altogether," Arroyo said.

    The President said the media should not abet conspiracies, especially among rightists and leftists, to overthrow the legitimate government.

    When asked about the Daily Tribune, an anti-government newspaper that was raided by police, Arroyo said she would not want to make a judgment on the media but noted that "freedom comes from responsibilities."

    Arroyo added the people themselves could "recognize those who are responsible and those who are not."

    Authorities raided the anti-government newspaper Daily Tribune after Arroyo declared a state of national emergency on Feb. 24 to quell attempts to overthrow her government. Its publisher and two columnists were charged with inciting to sedition. Enditem