Veteran broadcast journalist Kara David issued a brief but pointed response to Senator Rodante Marcoleta after the lawmaker described members of the media as “bayaran” during a Senate hearing.
In a Facebook post, David wrote: “Hindi kami bayaran.”
Marcoleta made the remark during a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, where former Marines testified that they allegedly served as bagmen and delivered luggage containing cash kickbacks from flood control projects to several lawmakers.
“Kayo pong mga participants sa media, na karamihan po sa inyo ay bayaran,” Marcoleta said during the hearing.
The statement drew criticism from journalists, media organizations, and government agencies.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said Marcoleta’s comments “threaten media credibility” and “expose them to potential harm.”
“Journalists have a duty to report accurately and impartially, and it is critical that public officials respect their role as watchdogs of accountability and truth,” PTFoMS said in a statement.
“Senator Marcoleta, who has previously championed accountability, should adhere to these ideals by either backing his claims with solid evidence or withdrawing his comments and apologizing to the journalists he has wrongfully accused,” it added.
The Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP) also expressed concern over the senator’s remarks.
“Criticism of the press is part of democratic discourse and should always be welcomed when it is grounded in facts. However, public officials who make serious allegations against journalists have a responsibility to present evidence, not rely on broad and inflammatory claims that malign an entire profession,” PCP said.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) emphasized the role of journalists in a democratic society.
“Journalists ferret out the truth and convey it to the public. This includes asking questions to whoever needs to be held accountable. Our colleagues in the Senate have been doing exactly what they ought to do.
“Portraying the media as partisan only means to distract the public from real issues that should be put into light,” the group said.
Members of the Senate media corps also criticized Marcoleta’s statement, saying it was an irresponsible attack on the press and could undermine public trust in journalism.
Following the backlash, Marcoleta apologized to media organizations and practitioners.
“Pasensiya na po kung ako ay nakapagsalita nang gano’n. I did not mean it,” he said.
When confronted by reporters, the senator clarified that he was not referring to all journalists.
“Kasi sabi mo, media, parang lahat na eh. Di ko nilalahat kasi you know I’m coming from deep frustrations,” Marcoleta said.
He explained that his frustration stemmed from a broadsheet article published in 2025 covering an Iglesia Ni Cristo rally where he claimed to have spoken for about 45 minutes.
“Ito naumpisahan ko na eh. I was using the example in the rally of the INC last January 13 yata in 2025. I spoke for about 45 minutes in that rally.”
According to Marcoleta, his participation was omitted from the report.
“So, 11 reporters saw it. 11 reporters heard it. Alam niyo, wala naman lang akong pangalan doon. Kahit na yung acronym lang ng pangalan ko, alam mo naman may naglagay, narinig namin si RTM, baka sakaling tanggapin ko na po eh.”
He added that other politicians who attended the event were mentioned in the article.
“There were senators na nagpunta doon, they weren’t invited. Basta nagpunta lamang doon, nasama sa crowd, nai-spot-an ng mga reporters, all their names, nandun po sa report, including their middle names,” Marcoleta claimed.
Despite the apology, media organizations maintained that allegations against journalists should be backed by evidence and addressed through proper channels.
