President Grand Palace, Ongpin, Binondo, Manila
17 June 2016

President Benigno S. Aquino III urged the media to assist each other and the government or vice versa in resolving national concerns and issues, and elucidated what it took for them to reach a good working relation.

“We understand where you are coming from. We understand the pressure from your various desks to produce the story that they want. And yet, I think you treated us reasonably,” he said over lunch with the members of the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC).

The President also talked on his recent communication with President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the separate presidential and vice-presidential inaugurations, the recent killings by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) extension for the filing of the Liberal Party’s Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), and the current score between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

After the lunch and Q&A, the President had a photo opportunity with all the MPC members.

President Aquino was joined by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio ‘Sonny’ Coloma in hosting the farewell lunch with the MPC at Binondo, Manila.

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