With the Palace engulfed in controversy and public trust rapidly eroding, a media ethics expert says President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can no longer rely on surrogates or scripted videosโhe must personally face the Filipino people. UP journalism professor and Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao warned that the administration is โunder fire, under siege,โ and that sending out spokespeople like Undersecretary Claire Castro is no longer enough, especially after exโExecutive Secretary Lucas Bersamin claimed he was ousted through a phone call from someone outside Malacaรฑang. Arao stressed that the Palaceโs evasive responses and Marcosโ tightly controlled video message only deepen doubts about transparency, particularly as corruption allegations loom over his cousin Martin Romualdez and former lawmaker Zaldy Co.
Arao said Marcosโ recent videoโpromising to refer flood-control anomalies to the Ombudsmanโโdoes not bode wellโ for an administration insisting it values accountability. He argued that Marcos needs to rebuild political capital with real reforms, including finally passing an anti-dynasty law and taking decisive steps on social justice: genuine agrarian reform, wage hikes, and direct aid to flood-stricken families. As calls for resignation swell ahead of the massive November 30 mobilization, Arao said the President should meet with protest organizers and confront public grievances head-on. โTransparency, accountability, even resignationโthese must be on the table,โ he said, noting that meaningful action is the only way to salvage an administration rocked by scandal.
Image from Bongbong Marcos FB