MANILA — Senator Rodante Marcoleta drew sharp condemnation on Thursday, June 4, 2026, after accusing members of the mainstream media of being "bayaran," or paid hacks, during the Blue Ribbon Committee proceedings at the Senate.

Marcoleta made the "bayaran" remark during the meeting at the Senate on Thursday, in which the 18 individuals who identified themselves as former Marines were present as part of the proceedings investigating the flood control corruption scandal. 

In an official statement, members of the Senate media condemned the remarks in the strongest possible terms, describing Marcoleta's sweeping claim that many members of the mainstream media are nothing more than paid hacks as not only irresponsible, but a reckless attack on an institution widely acknowledged as essential to any functioning democracy. 

The Senate media said Marcoleta's statement unfairly maligned media workers who risk intimidation, harassment, and even their lives to inform the public and hold the powerful accountable. They warned that at a time when disinformation and political polarization continue to undermine public discourse, government officials should exercise greater restraint and responsibility in their pronouncements. 

The Senate media further said that public officials who make serious allegations against journalists have a responsibility to present evidence instead of relying on inflammatory rhetoric that undermines democratic institutions. "The press is not the enemy of any political faction. It is not an extension of any political machinery. Its allegiance must remain solely to the truth and to the public it serves," the statement read. 

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) also weighed in on Thursday, urging Marcoleta to either prove his claims or retract his statement and apologize to journalists. "These sweeping statements threaten media credibility and expose them to potential harm. Journalists have a duty to report accurately and impartially, and it is critical that public officials respect their role as watchdogs of accountability and truth," PTFOMS said. 

The task force stressed that Marcoleta, who has previously championed accountability, should adhere to those same ideals by either backing his claims with solid evidence or withdrawing his comments and apologizing to the journalists he has wrongfully accused. 

"Casting vague aspersions against the media doesn't foster constructive dialogue. It threatens the very foundations of democratic processes by attempting to sway public opinion against those tasked with holding those in power to account," PTFOMS added. 

Marcoleta made the remarks during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday, June 4, the same day Senator Erwin Tulfo was tapped to chair the anti-corruption panel following the Senate leadership shakeup. Tulfo had issued a notice cancelling the hearing and rescheduling it to Monday, June 8, but former Blue Ribbon Committee chair Senator Pia Cayetano pushed through with the probe.