Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has pledged to pursue a relentless campaign against corruption and abuse of authority, describing the recent revelation of irregularities in government as 'shocking' but necessary to confront. 'We will continue our campaign on this corruption. We will continue our campaign on this abuse, on this entitlement that has shocked everyone, myself included,' Marcos said during the Malacañang media year-end fellowship at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednesday night. According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos stated that his administration has a clear direction in addressing governance issues. Corrective measures aimed at restoring integrity in public service are geared toward long-term national healing and stability, he stressed. 'So, we have to go through that pain, anguish that the country is going through now. But we're Filipinos. We may be bleeding now, but we will also heal very, very soon,' Marcos said. 'It's not as if we are lost, and we do not know what we are goi ng to do. We know what we are going to do,' he added. Marcos said he is racing against time to complete what needs to be done to curb corruption. While he acknowledged that the timeline for implementing sweeping reforms is tight, he remained confident that progress is achievable with intensified effort. 'There's very little time to do it, but if we work 24/7 like we always have, I think we can do it,' he said. Marcos emphasized that while the process is difficult, the administration expects the results to justify the hardships. He said the ultimate goal is to create an environment where accountability is non-negotiable. Marcos expressed gratitude to the members of the Malacañang Press Corps for helping explain complex policy issues to the public. He said the journalists' role in society remains vital, especially at a time when citizens are concerned primarily with their day-to-day needs and may struggle to grasp larger structural reforms. 'This is not an easy thing to explain to the average citizen, because they're not concerned about structural training and ideological ideas,' Marcos said. The President said the media serves as a bridge to help the government gain public trust. 'But you have been there to help us explain and make people understand what we're trying to do,' he added.