Palace backs bill vs. fake news, eyes registration of content creators

Malacañang on Tuesday expressed support for the filing of a bill that would penalize the spread of false information. (Pexels Photo)

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday expressed support for the filing of a bill that would penalize the spread of false information.

“Siguro naman kahit po hindi Palasyo ang tanungin natin, gugustuhin po talaga natin na ma-ban ang (Maybe even if we’re not asking the Palace, we would really like to see the ban on) fake news,” Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary, lawyer Claire Castro, said in a press conference.

Castro also suggested the registration of “all content creators” to stop the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.

She, however, acknowledged, that lawmakers need to study the full scope of fake news, especially its “definite” definition.

“We have to define first that there will be a law, if they will make such law, they have to define what’s fake news and what’s the limitation, how they can gauge that those statements will be considered as fake news,” Castro said.

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, eyeing a comeback under the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, had earlier said he would push for a bill against fake news if he is elected.

Ignoring ‘nonsense’ criticisms

The PCO, under its new head Jay Ruiz, will focus on intensifying the fight against fake news on social media.

Castro said the current administration would ignore “nonsense” remarks from its political rivals.

This, as she denied that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. instigated “negative campaigning” in light of the opposition party’s mudslinging.

“Unang-una po, ang sasagutin lang natin ay ‘yung mga intriga na may sense. Kung wala naman, I mean, walang meaning, walang sense, hindi po natin ito sasagutin, (First of all, we will only answer intrigues that make sense. If there is none, I mean, no meaning, no sense, we will not answer it), okay,” Castro said.

“At patungkol po kung sa na-una ang Pangulo sa pagbabatikos, it’s just part of the campaign propaganda and wala naman po siyang pinatungkulan kung sino.

Marami pong kandidato. Ang nagtataka lang po ulit tayo kung bakit nag-aray, hindi naman sila iyong pinatutungkulan (And regarding the President’s first criticism, it’s just part of the campaign propaganda and he didn’t address anyone. There are many candidates. We are just wondering again why they were complaining when they were not the ones referred to),” she added.

Castro advised those running in the midterm elections to make sure that they are qualified for the posts that they are eyeing, saying it would be a “waste of time” and “waste of public funds” if those who win are just “newbies” in politics.