State-run media outlets are ready to deliver accurate news and fight misinformation and disinformation throughout the May 12 national and local elections, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz said Saturday.
Ruiz met with officials and staff of key government media agencies—Philippine News Agency (PNA), People’s Television Network (PTV), Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), and Philippine Information Agency (PIA)—at the PTV office in Quezon City to finalize election coverage plans.
“Lahat ng media components sa gobyerno, pinagsama-sama natin dito para sa pinakamalakas, (at) pinakamalawak na coverage dito sa mangyayaring eleksyon sa May 12,” Ruiz said.
“Nandito po ang integrated state media para alamin ang katotohanan… Ito po ang sandigan ng katotohanan. We will be the vanguards of truth sa panahon ng eleksyon.”
He stressed that the initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to ensure honest, peaceful, and orderly polls.
The PCO is also working with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to curb online disinformation. The PNP will assign a focal person to the integrated media command center at PTV.
Ruiz is also scheduled to visit the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday to finalize strategies for real-time updates and countering election-related fake news.
A 24/7 threat monitoring operation was activated Friday to address potential disinformation.
“Para pagka may fake news, agad-agad na iti-take down ang mga fake news kasi syempre nakakagulo iyan, lalo na may nagsasabi na may nangyayaring dayaan dito or failure of elections sa isang lugar,” Ruiz said.