Team DailyPedia
Veteran GMA News anchor Arnold Clavio has expressed frustration over what he sees as excessive media focus on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte—while more pressing domestic issues risk being overshadowed.
In an Instagram post on Monday, March 24, Clavio wrote: “Puro na lang tungkol sa pag-aresto ng dating Pangulong Duterte ang laman ng balita, mainstream at social media, halos araw-araw.”
He noted that while Duterte supporters are loudly calling “Bring Home PRRD,” he believes another battle cry deserves attention:
“Baka puwede naman na isigaw nating lahat ay ‘BRING BACK THE FUNDS.’”
Clavio pointed to a string of unresolved financial and governance issues that he says deserve equal, if not more, attention from the public and media:
PhilHealth’s over-remittance of ₱60 billion to the national treasury, which remains under Supreme Court deliberation.
The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential fund spending amounting to ₱375 million, including a reported ₱125 million disbursed in just 11 days in 2022.
The Commission on Audit’s report stating that ₱73.3 million in OVP confidential funds could not be accounted for.
Controversial fund recipients reportedly tied to aliases such as “Mary Grace Piatos.”
Ongoing debates over the 2025 National Budget and General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“Pare-pareho lang kayo nagtatabunan ng mga isyu. Sa huli, dapat lahat ng mga opisyales ng gobyerno ay managot lalo na sa isyu ng paglustay sa kaban ng bayan. Hindi kami nakakalimot!” Clavio declared.
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In his other post, Clavio renewed his call for Congress to draft a Code of Ethics for vloggers, citing the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation on social media.
“Napapanahon na rin siguro na magbalangkas ang Kongreso… ng CODE OF ETHICS FOR VLOGGER,” he said, referencing the journalistic ethics laid out by institutions such as the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) and the National Press Club (NPC).
Clavio emphasized that while mainstream journalists are bound by strict ethical standards, content creators on digital platforms often operate without accountability—something that he believes contributes to the erosion of public trust in news.
He reiterated the need for integrity, fairness, and truthfulness in reporting, regardless of platform, especially in an era where misinformation can quickly shape public opinion.
