The 50th or Golden anniversary of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) is as good an occasion as any for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to lay down his basic policies on media in general.
In his speech, President Marcos Jr. encouraged media practitioners to perform their job without restriction as he underscored the relevance of a critical press in the country.
“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.
It is worth noting that this is the first time in nine years that a Philippine president has attended the forum. The Chief Executive’s father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., started the tradition and was the first Philippine leader to grace it 50 years ago.
“Five decades later, I stand here, addressing you as the President, to celebrate your golden anniversary and carry on the legacy of this important media tradition,” the chief executive told members of the FOCAP.
Marcos Jr. stressed that the President's role is to defend press freedom, and not lead in destroying it or demeaning its practitioners.
For many of us in the working press, this policy statement by the President is most welcome.
This statement came 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.
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.
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.
On 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.
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 the 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.
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