PCO postpones new journalist accreditation rules

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has postponed the implementation of new accreditation guidelines for journalists covering President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Malacañang, following discussions with officials from the Malacanang Press Corps (MPC).

Journalists will not be required to submit new accreditation documents until contentious items in the policy are finalized, including the five-year minimum requirement of existence for media entities and government coverage for reporters.

The MPC officers pointed out that these provisions would affect the status of fledgling news entities and the deployment of young staffers.

During their meeting, both sides agreed to work together to achieve a middle ground ensuring the efficiency and integrity of the accreditation process while preserving the autonomy of Palace reporters.

PCO Secretary Jaybee Ruiz is open to MPC suggestions but insists on enforcing stricter rules for security reasons.

The MPC officers will submit a position paper by Friday to guide the crafting of clearer guidelines.