By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez on Tuesday filed charges against purveyors of fake online advisories amid the declaration of the state of national energy emergency due to the escalating Middle East conflict.
“Last Sunday, we issued a stern warning against anyone who would deliberately fabricate and spread fake news over the Internet to advance their personal and political interest in this time of energy emergency, that they will be held to account to the full extent of the law,” Gomez said in media interview after filing the charges at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“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,” he added.
Gomez also asked the DOJ to investigate persons behind at least three “fake news” posts and “bring them to court on behalf of the Filipino people to answer for the harm they have caused the public.”
He was referring to the fabricated “Energy Lockdown,” designed to scam the public into buying solar panels; “Fuel Shortage,” which meant to sow panic by inducing the public to stock up on gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); and invented “Emergency Lockdown” on account of an imagined Covid-19 Cicada variant.
The PCO chief said these posts are blatant lies and fabrications that fall under the definition of “false news,” the publication of which is deemed a crime punishable by up to six months imprisonment under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code.
And because it is committed online, the penalty is higher under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, he added.
These “fake news” posts were flagged by the PCO Anti-Fake-News Desk, which “we set up following the launch of our Oplan Kontra Fake News last month,” Gomez said.
“We are submitting to the DOJ the results of our initial investigation so that they can conduct a more thorough probe, identify the culprits, and file the proper charges in court,” Gomez said.
“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 added.
Gomez said the PCO is intensifying monitoring of social media and information ecosystems to detect and counter deliberate disinformation campaigns.
“We will not let you get away with a crime. We will go after you and hold you to account,” he said.
“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. (PNA)
