Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Oath-Taking Ceremony of the Newly Elected Officers of Malacañang Media Groups

Well, first of all, of course, the officers and members now who have just sworn in, the officers and members of the Malacañang Cameraman Association, oh sorry, Press Corps, led by President Ivan Ramesis Mayrina. How do you pronounce your name? Is it Ivan or Ivan? [Ivan, sir.] Yeah, I know. I keep hearing, but I know it as Ivan. But okay, Ivan, then it is.

Officers and members of Malacañang Cameraman Association, led by President Rolly Demawalo. [applause] O, palakpakan ninyo. Siya’ng nagpapaganda sa atin. Officers and members of the Presidential Photojournalist Association, led by President Noel Pabalete. [applause] Ang daming pala ah. [laughs] Fellow workers in government, ladies and gentlemen.

Good afternoon.

Since I first came into year as President, I have had the privilege of administering the oath of office to many, many officials and, of course, of the Malacañang Media Groups.

And of course, it is always very important for me because the relationship between those of us who are holding office and who are administrators and referred to as leaders of the country have a very important part to play, and the press has its own play, the press has its own role to play in any democracy.

And of course, we do not always agree on certain things, but that does not make us adversaries. I always see it as partnership between both the media practitioners and those of us who are holding office. Because after all, we all serve the public.

And therefore, our relationship remains grounded in mutual respect and open dialogue. And it is the only way that I know to have a productive and constructive relationship between the practitioners in the media and with those of us who are in office.

As well today, we just took another person who took their oath of office just before we came here is Acting Secretary Lino Cayetano, now who is holding the office in the Presidential Communications Office. [applause]

I am sure that you already have many questions for him waiting to be asked, and I’m sure that you will find, again, that common ground wherein you can work together as him, as the head of the PCO, and of course you as the media practitioners.

We also congratulate the Malacañang Media Group officers, and I congratulate Mr. Ivan – I got it right – of the Malacanang Press Course, Mr. Noel of the Presidential Photojournalist, second term na, and I also congratulate Mr. Rolly on his election as president of the Malacañang Cameraman Association.

I am sure that you and the fellow officers will maintain your professionalism as you have always shown, and whilst continuing to maintain the independence of the press.

This Administration remains committed to ensuring that our reporters, our photojournalists, and cameramen can perform their duties freely and safely, and without fear of intimidation or violence from anywhere.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security has conducted safety and security workshops, has strengthened coordination with other government offices to protect media practitioners. It has also established media monitoring centers for the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections to help monitor journalists deployed in the field.

To address the spread of false information, we have also implemented Oplan Kontra Fake News.

We likewise support measures that promote the public’s right to information and address disinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression.

In today’s media environment, accurate and reliable information is critical and it matters more than ever because there has to be a voice that is known and respected to be a purveyor of actual facts and actual news – not fake news, not deepfakes, not AI-created contents but actual facts and actual news.

Whether through reports, photographs, videos, your work helps Filipinos to understand the events and to know how these events affect their lives and the decisions that they will have to make for themselves in light of the context that you make and offer to the public.

So, your dedication to accurate, reliable, and fair journalism earns the trust of the Filipino people. I hope that you will continue to carry out this work with the same commitment that you have shown in the past years.

So, once again, congratulations to the newly elected officers of the Malacañang Media Groups.

I look forward to our continued conversations and continued cooperation.

Maraming salamat at mabuhay kayong lahat! [applause]

Mabuhay ang Malacañang Media Groups!

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!

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