Less than a month after the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) banned Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) president Chona Yu from Malacañang coverage, the agency now led by former TV anchor Jay Ruiz is now rolling out stricter media accreditation rules that could drastically reduce the number of reporters assigned to the country’s seat of power.
In a memorandum dated April 25 signed by PCO Assistant Secretary Dale De Vera — who heads the PCO’s Media Accreditation and Relations Office (MARO) — announced the “New Guidelines for Media Accreditation in Malacañang,” citing the need to “uphold the highest standards” of journalism as the PCO gears up for its role as Chair of the ASEAN 2026 Media Committee.
Under the new rules, only seasoned journalists with at least five years of experience in political or government reporting — and certified employment by reputable media organizations — will be granted access.
Freelancers, new reporters, and those from outfits younger than five years old face near-certain exclusion. Journalists must pass stringent background checks and security clearances.
“Immediate revocation of accreditation for any misconduct, false reporting, security violations and any falsification/ misrepresentation in the submission of documents,” PCO wrote in the memorandum.
If strictly enforced, even state-run People’s Television Network Inc. (PTNI) may find itself unable to field a reporter inside Malacañang, as all its reporters are hired under contract of service arrangements, not as regular employees.
The same fate likely awaits reporters from many tabloid outlets, where non-regular employment is rampant.
The crackdown fuels broader fears that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s communications team is moving to consolidate control over one of the nation’s most influential press beats.
Inside the press corps, the new rules have been met with frustration. Reporters privately describe the move as an effort to “sanitize” coverage of the Palace and silence independent reporting.
“They want a tamed, obedient press — not a free one,” one veteran Palace reporter told The City Post.
“This is not about professionalism. It’s about purging anyone they don’t like,” the reporter added.
Another senior correspondent described the new rules as a “death sentence” for small and independent news outlets. “They’re making sure only the big, friendly media survive here. If you ask the hard questions, you’re out,” the senior correspondent said.
Nearly a month ago, the PCO enforced the ban against Yu after she resigned from a newspaper and moved to a radio station — both media entities fully accredited by Malacañang. According to a source familiar with the matter, a high-ranking PCO official allegedly harbored resentment toward the MPC after a failed bid years ago to have a personally owned digital TV channel accredited by the Palace. (TCSP)
