MANILA, Philippines— Malacañang announced that the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), through its Anti-Fake News Desk (AFND), has requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate and file criminal charges against the operators of a Facebook page for spreading fake news while using the official Malacañang Palace logo without authorization.
In a statement Thursday, the PCO said the first complaint targets a Facebook page that framed itself as a satirical news outlet while publishing malicious content that bypassed legitimate satire.
Using the official Malacañang Palace logo, the page falsely announced weeks-long class suspensions during severe southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ rains and published fake details concerning the Pax Silica initiative.
“Satire cannot be used as a shield for deliberately misleading the public. When false information is presented in a manner that could be mistaken for legitimate government information, it becomes a matter of public concern," the PCO said in its referral to the NBI.
Meanwhile, the second case involves a website that falsely advertised a P30,000 Department of Health (DOH) medical assistance program, misleading citizens seeking government financial aid.
The DOH issued a public warning advisory on August 9 regarding the scam website.
