FOR many of us in the working press, the speech of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the 50th anniversary celebration of Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) is more than reassuring.
Almost two years into his six-year term and at a precarious time when the wave of criticism against his administration is rising along with the erosion of his approval and trust ratings, Marcos hit the proverbial nail in the head by laying down his policies on media.
‘… we hope President Bongbong’s policy of mutual respect and understanding of the press extends not only to FOCAP but also to all the sectors of media, the traditional print and broadcast, and social media, too.’
In his speech, President Marcos encouraged media practitioners to perform their job without restriction as he underscored the relevance of a critical press in Philippine society.
“Unlike many of my predecessors, I do not seek collaboration, for that implies a surrender of your Independence. I am of the opinion that national interest is better served by a press that is critical rather than a press that is cooperative,” Marcos said.
The President stressed that nothing should hamper members of the media from imparting the truth to the public.
“It (the press) must have the untrammeled freedom to do its work, not just to arm the citizenry with the truth, but also to deepen discernment in this age of mass disinformation. In fact, this has been the hallmark of FOCAP’s relationship with the presidency and the government for this half century,” he added.
FOCAP and the Presidential Communications Office made a big deal of the fact that Bongbong’s father, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, started the tradition of Philippine presidents attending the forums of FOCAP, being friendly with the press, and recognizing their worth. This did not relate well to the senior members of FOCAP and the working press who knew by experience how FM muzzled the media especially during his martial law regime.
In the same occasion, President Bongbong renewed his vow to continue defending press freedom in the Philippines and to continue protecting and ensuring the welfare of media practitioners in the country.
“As President, I will seek this forum, not only to explain our policies, but to renew my vow to what I deeply believe in: That the President’s role is to defend press freedom, and not lead in destroying it or demeaning its practitioners,” he said.
President Marcos said his duty is not to ask special favor, but only fairness which everyone deserves from the Fourth Estate.
Speaking of fairness, the collective experience of the working press in the Philippines points to the fact that journalists should be the ones asking this from government. This is so because the government possesses all the powers to marginalize media persons and pressure media owners by capitalizing on perceived violations of their franchises, business ownership disclosures, payment of taxes, etc.
The President also lauded FOCAP members for living up to the public trust without compromising their principles in a manner that is “fair but nuanced, balanced but critical.”
In fine, we hope President Bongbong’s policy of mutual respect and understanding of the press extends not only to FOCAP but also to all the sectors of media, the traditional print and broadcast, and social media, too.
