Marcos ‘strongly committed’ to keep journalists safe: Palace Press chief

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Veteran journalist Maria Ressa talks with Percy Lapid’s son Mark Mabasa as she paid her respects. Anjo Bagaoisan, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/10/08/20221008-ressa-mabasa.jpg"/><figcaption>Veteran journalist Maria Ressa talks with Percy Lapid’s son Mark Mabasa as she paid her respects.<em> Anjo Bagaoisan, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is “strongly committed to the protection and safety of members of the media in the country,” his Press Secretary said on Saturday.</p><p>Marcos is “committed to protecting you,” said Undersecretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, officer in charge of the Office of the Press Secretary.</p><p>“Makaaasa kayo na ang ating Pangulo, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, ay patuloy ang pagkilala sa hanay ng media bilang importanteng haligi ng ating demokrasya,” she told journalists during a round table discussion organized by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos.</p><p>“Patuloy ang commitment niya na kayo ay proteksyonan at kilalanin ang inyong important role sa nation building,” she said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/19/22/gunman-in-percy-lapid-slay-had-no-criminal-record-police">Confessed gunman in Percy Lapid slay had no criminal record - police</a></li></ul><p>Garafil, a former journalist, was invited to the dialogue between the government and the media after several newsmen were alarmed after police personnel visited their homes, unannounced.</p><p>“The implementation of unannounced security strategy was aimed at ensuring the safety of media members in the wake of the murder of popular broadcast commentator Percy Lapid,” the OPS said in a statement.</p><p>“However, Abalos noted that the move had ‘raised alarm and fear’ among journalists,” the statement read.</p><p>Abalos earlier told ABS-CBN News that he has since instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to halt the visitation program, and instead hold dialogues with media companies and journalists’ groups.</p><p>“The government wants to know what journalists need from the police for them to feel safe while doing their jobs,” Abalos said in a virtual interview last week.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/19/22/walkthrough-sa-pagpatay-kay-percy-lapid-isinagawa-ng-spd">&#x27;Walkthrough&#x27; sa mga lugar na dinaanan ng mga suspek sa Percy Lapid killing, isinagawa ng SPD</a></li></ul><p>The media policy of the Marcos Jr. administration is in contrast to how his father, late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, had treated journalists.</p><p>Historians and several media groups have repeatedly criticized Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship, describing it as a period where journalists, activists and dissenters were brutally tortured, raped or killed.</p><p>In May, Marcos Jr. urged the media and the public to “judge me not by my ancestors, but by my actions.”</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2299020" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is “strongly committed to the protection and safety of members of the media in the country,” his Press Secretary said on Saturday.

Marcos ‘strongly committed’ to keep journalists safe: Palace Press chief | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

News

Marcos ‘strongly committed’ to keep journalists safe: Palace Press chief

Marcos ‘strongly committed’ to keep journalists safe: Palace Press chief

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 22, 2022 09:04 PM PHT

Read More:

Bongbong Marcos

journalism

press freedom

journalist killing

Percy Lapid

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.