President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged the Philippine media on Thursday to help ensure clean, honest, and transparent midterm elections in 2025 while upholding the country’s democracy in an era marked by disinformation.
During the 50th Top Level Management Conference (TLMC) organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), the President called on broadcasters to combat misinformation and strengthen public trust.
“An informed citizenry is the foundation of a truly working democracy,” President Marcos said.
He acknowledged that with technological advances and the surge of social media, disinformation campaigns have become a threat to public trust in elections.
“The media plays a vital role in dismantling the lies spread by troll farms and other malicious organizations,” he noted.
The President encouraged journalists to uphold responsible journalism, which he described as essential not only for informing but also for empowering and enlightening the public.
He called on the KBP to continue its collaboration with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to safeguard the electoral process.
“Let us explore new and creative ways to engage and inspire the public,” he said, adding that the public must be “actively involved, vigilant, and ready to defend our shared values.”
In addition to rallying support for truthful reporting, President Marcos renewed his commitment to journalist safety, particularly as the election season approaches, citing that the government would intensify efforts to protect media practitioners, especially those in local communities vulnerable to election-related threats.
“I directed PTFOMS to ramp up its operations for the 2025 elections, focusing efforts on members of the local media, whose fearless coverage often puts them at risk,” said the President.
PTFOMS, chaired by the Department of Justice Secretary, is also tasked with strengthening partnerships with media organizations, including the KBP, National Press Club (NPC), and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
