Palace backs NBI move tapping Interpol to trace fake news peddlers

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the NBI’s move should have been done a long time ago. (PNA file photo by Robert Alfiler)

MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday expressed support for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in tapping the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to track down overseas Filipinos peddling false information.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the NBI’s move should have been done a long time ago.

“Dumadami na po ang mga fake news vloggers at dapat noon pa po nasimulan ito kaya maraming salamat sa NBI (The number of fake news vloggers is increasing and this should have started before then, so thank you very much to the NBI),” she said.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago earlier confirmed that the agency is coordinating with Interpol to pursue individuals overseas accused of spreading false information.

The assistance was sought as Santiago acknowledged the legal complexities of such initiative, especially in countries such as the United States where libel is treated as a civil case, not a criminal offense.

The NBI is currently investigating at least 20 people suspected of being part of an organized network propagating misinformation and disinformation, particularly targeting government officials and political personalities.

Castro earlier admitted that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was “slightly affected” by the alarming surge in fake news on social media.

She said Marcos has directed the PCO to ramp up the government’s drive to counter misinformation not just for himself but for the country.