Sotto warns public vs. fake news on alleged tax bills

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

otto appealed to the public to remain vigilant and verify information before sharing it online. (Vicente Tito Sotto/facebook)

MANILA – Senate President Vicente Sotto III denied social media posts falsely claiming that he proposed new tax measures targeting workers and content creators.

Sotto clarified that the viral posts circulating online, which quote him as saying that small and big content creators should be taxed 50 percent or that workers should be paid daily instead of monthly, are completely fabricated.

“For the information of my colleagues, numerous and coordinated circulation of fake news have been spreading regarding new tax measures allegedly proposed by me,” Sotto said in a statement.

He emphasized that in his more than two decades in the Senate, he has never filed or supported any proposal to increase or impose new taxes.

“In my 24 years in the Senate, I have never proposed any tax measures.

In fact, I have consistently voted against it,” he said.

Sotto appealed to the public to remain vigilant and verify information before sharing it online.

“To those peddling fake news, ipagdadasal ko na lang kayo (I’ll pray for you),” he added.

He also reminded the public not to easily believe false or malicious content on social media.

“Sa ating mga kababayan, huwag kayo basta maniniwala, lalo na pag masama ang balita (To our countrymen, do not believe easily, especially when the news is bad),” Sotto said.