By Gabriel Kim Leal
(June 7, 2025) – Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz on Friday called on lawmakers to pass legislation that would clearly define and penalize the spread of fake news online.
Speaking at a tri-committee hearing in the House of Representatives, Ruiz insisted that disinformation threatens democracy and national security.
“We agree that there is a right to information but that right should be for accurate information,” said Ruiz. “With the absence of a law for defining what fake news is, (for) setting penalties, wala tayong panghahawakan.”
He pointed to the influence of social media during elections, where misleading or outright false content can quickly go viral. Even government agencies, he said, struggle to take down fake posts.
Ruiz cited as example a fake memorandum supposedly signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin which circulated online, despite repeated efforts by the government to have it taken down.
“If you do not stop fake news, eventually our people will no longer decide based on informed decisions but based on lies,” added Ruiz. “Are we at the mercy of platforms?”
To date, victims of online disinformation can only turn to the Anti-Cybercrime Law, which experts say offers limited remedies in such cases.
On Thursday, the Department of Information and Communications Technology revealed that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has agreed to “demote” posts flagged by the Philippine government as “fake.”
Ruiz lauded the move, adding that while social media platforms are already self-regulating to curb the spread of fake news, “it has to be the government who should give the standards.”
Not everyone, however, is convinced.
On Friday, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said that ensuring government transparency and strengthening freedom of information, would be a more effective tools in fighting fake news than relying on government intervention.
Still, Ruiz stood firm.
“Papaano kung ang tao bine-base niya ang mga desisyon niya sa mga fake news o kasinungalingan? Isipin mo kung ang mga botante natin boboto sa impormasyon na kasinungalingan, anong klaseng democracy ang meron tayo?” stressed Ruiz.
(AGD)
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