25-9-2023 (MANILA) Secretary Cheloy Garafil of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has called on her counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reject any attempts to limit press freedom, emphasizing the crucial role of the media in a democratic society.
Speaking through Philippine Information Agency director-general Joe Torres Jr. at the 16th Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information in Da Nang, Vietnam, Garafil highlighted the significance of preserving press freedom as a fundamental pillar of a thriving democracy and emphasized the need to staunchly oppose any efforts to suppress it.
Garafil, a former journalist, underscored the media’s pivotal function as the cornerstone that connects the diverse nations of ASEAN, transforming information into knowledge that empowers citizens and strengthens collective resilience and responsiveness.
She emphasized that under President Marcos, the Philippines remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting the people’s right to access information and upholding press freedom.
“The Philippines upholds its responsibility to foster regional integration and cooperation among ASEAN member states. With the assistance of the media, we can achieve our shared objective of addressing the various challenges we currently face by bridging the gaps between our cultures and communities,” Garafil stated.
Furthermore, Garafil highlighted the media’s role in promoting accountability and transparency among public servants to ensure that the best interests of the people are prioritized.
In addition to the 10 ASEAN member states, the conference welcomed representatives from Timor-Leste as an observer, as well as three partner countries—Japan, South Korea, and China.
