The Central Luzon Media Association (CLMA) on Friday challenged San Fernando Mayor Vilma Caluag to identify which media organizations or journalists she was referring to when she accused the press of spreading “fake news” during the Giant Lantern Festival kickoff on September 4.
CLMA regional president Deng Pangilinan stressed that blanket accusations without proof undermine press freedom and erode public trust in legitimate reporting. “If the mayor has evidence, she should make it public instead of making sweeping generalizations,” Pangilinan said.
The CLMA underscored that journalists have a duty to scrutinize those in power and that attacks against the press risk chilling independent reporting. CLMA also warned that conflating viral social media content with professional journalism only fuels disinformation.
The group urged Caluag to clarify her claims, emphasizing that accountability applies not only to the press but also to public officials who use public platforms for personal grievances.