Roque says people wouldn’t distinguish true news if there’s no fake news

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday backed freedom of speech by saying that public wouldn’t be able to know what “true news” is without “fake news.”

“Sabi nila sa isang kaso – kung walang fake news, hindi natin malalaman kung ano iyong true news. Hindi natin malalaman kung anong kasinungalingan, hindi rin natin malalaman kung anong katotohanan (As stated in one case —if there’s no fake news, we wouldn’t know what true news is. We would not be able to distinguish the lies, we wouldn’t know what’s the truth),” Roque said in a press briefing on the sidelines of Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City.

“So, let there be a free marketplace of ideas,” he added.

When Roque was asked about his “relationship” with President Rodrigo Duterte’s social media supporters, the Palace official said that he would not start a fight with anyone in traditional or social media.

“Ang aking paninindigan: importante ang karapatan ng malayang pananalita at malayang pamamahayag. Ang sa akin lang, doon lang po tayo sa totoo (My standpoint is: freedom of speech and freedom of the press are important. For me, we go for the truth),” Roque said.

Roque also said that he had been misunderstood as some “prestigious publications” allegedly reported fake news about his remarks on Philippine Rise, internationally called as Benham Rise.

Malacañang’s comment on the issue of the country permitting China to conduct research at Philippine Rise recently sparked criticisms.

“Sa totoo lang po, itong issue ng Benham Rise nagulat ako (Actually, I was also shocked by the issue on Benham Rise) – how prestigious publications can really publish fake news. Kasi malinaw na malinaw po ang sinabi ko doon sa tape (I was clear on what I’ve said on the tape),” the Spokesman stressed.

“Pero noong nakita ko iyong mga istorya, talaga nga naman palang wala namang pagkakaiba minsan doon sa mga sinusulat ng established media at doon sa mga sinusulat ng social media (But when I saw the stories, there were no difference between what was being written by established media and social media),” he added.

The Palace official also defended that it’s long been his advocacy to protect freedom of speech and freedom of press despite rapid increase of fake news in the country.