Amid the rise of new technology, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday called on every Filipino to protect the sanctity of facts.

“So I call on every Filipino: do not just fight; lead the change. Verify, question, and hold the line,” President Marcos said in his speech during the 50th Anniversary of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

‘We have a duty to protect the sanctity of facts, not just as citizens, but as guardians of our shared reality. Sa Bagong Pilipinas, walang puwang ang kasinungalingan. Sama-sama tayong titindig sa katotohanan,” he added.

President Marcos said the “road ahead may be riddled with challenges, but remember—great things are never easy.”

He said that with new technology, “we face a different kind of enemy.”

Misinformation, cyber-libel threats, and the relentless pressures of the digital age have added layers of complexity to ensuring press freedom, the President said.

Every post, every share, every careless click—these are our new battlegrounds, he said.

From the anonymous troll farms to the deliberate spread of conspiracy theories, this fight has evolved far beyond the newsroom. “It is now in the palm of every hand that scrolls through social media,” the President said.

As the country marks the 50th Anniversary of PAPI, journalists celebrate not just the pages they have printed, but the values they upheld with every word, every story, and every truth fought to be told.

“After all, the true measure of journalism is not just about telling stories and writing headlines; it is about standing firm even when the ground beneath our feet begins to shake,” the President said. |PND