Journalists covering the Palace on Wednesday slammed a statement by Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on media's supposed "misreporting" of President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark about martial law over the weekend.

• READ: Journalists slam accusation of 'misreporting' Duterte remarks

Contrary to Andanar's claims of inaccuracy, reporters merely paraphrased or translated Duterte’s words, keeping his meaning intact, the Malacanang Press Corps (MPC) said in a statement.

“We encourage the good secretary and his officials to read the entire news stories, not just the heads or titles, to get a better picture of the media's coverage of the President,” the MPC said.

The MPC said media also has no obligation to please its sources, because its loyalty is to citizens, “those who will be affected by the actions of people who are far more powerful than them.”

Government officials should not blame the media whenever Duterte’s statements draw controversy or criticism, because it would not contribute to having relevant conversations among Filipinos, the Palace-beat journalists said.

“We hope that such behavior is not an attempt to discredit or undermine the media…and supplant them with information sources that would push for an agenda that is less than noble than the truth.”

The media, after all, plays a crucial role in keeping democracy healthy and in checking the acts of those in power, the MPC said.

On Saturday, Duterte said in a speech that he will declare martial law if he has to, to “preserve [his] nation, period.”

"Wala akong pakialam diyan sa Supreme Court…my country transcends everything else, even the limitation. Kung gusto ko at it (drug problem) will deteriorate into something really virulent, I will declare martial law if I wanted to. Walang makapigil sa akin," Duterte said.