MEDIA GROUPS SLAM MARCOLETA OVER 'PAID MEDIA' CLAIMS; LAWMAKER APOLOGIZES

Photo Courtesy of Rodante Marcoleta / Facebook (Uploaded: June 4, 2026; 11:51 AM)

Representative Rodante Marcoleta issued a public apology to journalists on Thursday, June 4, 2026, backtracking on his explosive allegations that the majority of mainstream media practitioners are “paid hacks”. His retraction followed a wave of fierce condemnation from the Senate press corps, national media watchdogs, and a state-backed press security task force.

The Triggering Allegation

The controversy erupted earlier that day during a high-profile Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing investigating an alleged multi-billion flood control corruption scandal. Marcoleta, visibly agitated, directed a sweeping accusation at reporters assigned to cover the upper chamber.

"Kayong participant sa media, na karamihan ay bayaran, may nagsalita ba sa kanila?" (To you members of the media, most of whom are paid hacks, has anyone among you spoken up?)

Marcoleta claimed that journalists purposefully failed to question a "new majority" block of senators who allegedly remained silent about delays in the flood control probe.

Rapid Backlash from Media Watchdogs

Media organizations immediately labeled his remarks as a "dangerous and reckless attack" designed to divert attention from state accountability.

The Senate Press Corps (SPC): Repudiated the claims, stating that journalists must never be "sacrificed in the political battles of others". They emphasized that constructive criticism is welcome, but "wholesale vilification" exposes beat reporters to targeted harassment and violence.

The National Press Club (NPC) & NUJP: NPC President Leonel Abasola urged government figures to demonstrate professional restraint. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) added that the tirade was a blatant attempt to erode public trust during an intensifying political rift between rival camps.

Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS): The state-backed media security task force swiftly intervened, reminding public officials that casting vague aspersions without presenting hard evidence severely damages democratic foundations.

The Retreat and Apology

Faced with immediate, unified pushback from newsrooms nationwide, Marcoleta held a joint press conference with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano later that afternoon to walk back his comments.

"Pasensya na po kung ako ay nakapagsalita ng ganoon. I did not mean it. Ito po ay dahil sa frustration ko sa nangyari at nangyayari," Marcoleta stated. (I ask for your patience if I spoke that way. I did not mean it. This stemmed from my deep frustration regarding what has been happening.)

To explain his "frustration," Marcoleta complained about a perceived lack of individual media coverage. He cited a January Iglesia ni Cristo rally where he claimed he spoke for 45 minutes, yet consecutive joint-coverage reports published by major news broadsheets failed to mention his name.

Press advocates reiterated following his apology that journalism's loyalty remains strictly with the public, independent of partisan feuds or the personal visibility grievances of lawmakers.