MANILA — Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito urged government agencies to provide President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. with accurate, real-time information on the ongoing Middle East conflict, warning that incomplete or overly optimistic reporting could worsen the impact on Filipino households.

“(There should be) no sugar coating of reports to PBBM. Hindi PR ang kailangan sa gitna ng krisis kundi katotohanan,” Ejercito said, emphasizing that truth is crucial in crisis management, not public relations stunts.

The senator pointed out that global tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran are already driving up fuel and commodity prices, which could cascade into higher transport fares and food costs. “Sa huli, ang mamamayan na naman ang direktang naaapektuhan,” he added.

Ejercito stressed that delays in response often stem from incomplete or overly optimistic reporting, which can hinder timely government action. He called on department officials to relay accurate, ground-level data to help the administration make informed decisions.

“Objective at constructive criticism ito. Hindi tayo naninisi pero hindi rin tayo pwedeng magbulag-bulagan. Ang unang hakbang sa solusyon ay ang pag-amin sa problema,” Ejercito said. He noted that guesswork cannot guide solutions in times of crisis; decisions must be based on facts.

The lawmaker framed his comments as a constructive measure to strengthen the government’s response, urging agencies to prioritize transparency and honesty in delivering critical information to the President.