CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Aligning military public information with the national
government’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda, the 4th Infantry ‘Diamond’ Division (4ID) gathered
Mindanao’s state communicators, military public affairs personnel, and digital content creators
for the 3rd Mindanao Leg of the Digital and Social Media Summit (DASMES) 2026 from Aug.
13 to 14 at Camp Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City.

The two-day summit mobilized public affairs officers, social media managers, vloggers, youth
leaders, and information officers across the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine
National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA),
Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and Regional Army Command (RAGCOM). The initiative

reinforces national AFP digital media programs designed to protect citizens from online
deception, ensure transparent governance, and deliver reliable public service information straight
to local communities.
Opening the summit, 4ID Commander Maj. Gen. Marion T. Angcao stressed that military and
government communication must fundamentally serve citizen welfare by earning and sustaining
public trust.
“Our mission is to win the trust of the Filipino people. And if we earn their trust, then we have
achieved something far greater than going viral,” Angcao said, emphasizing that transparent
digital messaging directly empowers communities with actionable, life-saving information.
He urged participants to leverage digital platforms to foster civic awareness, national solidarity,
and truth-based discourse across Mindanao.
“Let us use every platform not to create noise, but to create awareness; not to divide, but to unite;
not to mislead, but to inform. Because in the end, the most powerful story we could tell is the
truth,” Angcao added.
The summit created an interactive space for media practitioners and state communicators to
share strategic solutions, refine digital outreach, and tackle emerging security threats in the
online landscape.
Army G7 Assistant Chief of Staff Col. Francisco L. Molina Jr. explained that upskilling
government communicators ensures a unified, fast, and reliable public information response
during crises, directly benefiting citizens who rely on official updates.
Meanwhile, 4ID G7 Assistant Chief of Staff Col. Ricky L. Canatoy reminded information
officers that safeguarding public safety requires upholding accuracy and credibility over
publishing speed.
“The question is no longer simply how fast we can publish. The more important question is can
the public trust what we publish?” Canatoy said.
He instructed communicators to thoroughly verify facts before dissemination, noting that
sacrificing accuracy for speed undermines public security and trust in government institutions.
Workshops throughout the event covered digital strategic communications, public affairs, social
media management, fighting misinformation and disinformation, artificial intelligence
applications, institutional branding, and ethical content creation.
The gathering highlighted how strong inter-agency unity advances the Bagong Pilipinas
campaign by delivering timely, accurate, contextualized, and dependable information to the
public amid a volatile digital landscape.

Through DASMES, participating agencies reinforced their commitment to modernizing
communication capabilities, safeguarding digital spaces, and securing public well-being through
responsible digital stewardship. (Bernadith G. Epan/PIA 10-Bukidnon)