THE Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Tuesday went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to seek an investigation and file charges against those proliferating "falsified news" online, particularly on social media sites.
PCO officials, led by acting Secretary Dave Gomez, cited misleading information posted by the Facebook page Malasakit News Pilipinas regarding the country’s energy emergency.
The posts allegedly claimed an impending energy lockdown and a shortage of oil supply, causing undue concern to the public.
"Today, upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Presidential Communications Office is giving teeth to our warning. We are initiating the filing of charges against the persons responsible for the Facebook page 'Malasakit News Pilipinas' for posting fake news in a malicious desire to sow public panic and confusion and undermine public welfare and safety," the PCO chief said.
"We are asking the Department of Justice to investigate at least three 'fake news' posts, determine the persons that fabricated them and bring them to court on behalf of the Filipino people to answer for the harm they have caused the public," he added.
Gomez said others are using the state of national energy emergency declared by Malacañang to hoard commodities and petroleum products, as well as peddle products related to solar power.
The posts were flagged by the PCO Anti-Fake News Desk and were referred to Acting Justice Secretary Frederick Vida for investigation and appropriate legal action.
Gomez stated that because the acts were committed online, the penalty is higher under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
"Again, we remind users of social media platforms that the government will exercise zero tolerance for those who maliciously and deliberately spread utter falsehoods and fabricated contents. Any attempt to mislead the public about energy security, supply, or pricing to sow confusion will be treated as a serious offense," he said.
"We will not let you get away with a crime. We will go after you and hold you to account. We are intensifying monitoring of social media and information ecosystems to detect and counter deliberate disinformation campaigns. Our ultimate obligation is to safeguard the stability of energy supply, protect consumers and uphold the public’s right to true and accurate information," he added.
The administration’s chief communicator likewise asserted that the PCO would also go after parties who post falsehoods against Marcos and the first family.
Last Monday, reports surfaced that the president fell ill and was again admitted to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, the reason he was a no-show at an event for repatriated overseas Filipino workers.
Marcos, however, was in attendance at the oath-taking ceremony for the national executive officers of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines.
"No one will be spared. If we’re able to prove that it’s fake news, we will file charges against them," Gomez said.