MALACAÑANG yesterday denied President Marcos Jr. is engaging in mudslinging or negative campaigning when he campaigns for the 12 senatorial candidates of the administration’s “Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
Presidential Press Officer (PPO) Claire Castro said the President has only been stating facts and using idiomatic expressions in his campaign speeches.
“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 (It’s just part of the campaign propaganda and he was not referring to anyone specific – there are a lot of candidates running. I am just wondering why anyone would be hurt when they are not directly referred to),” she said.
“Kumbaga, ano ito, ‘Bato, bato sa langit, tamaan ay huwag magalit.’ Bakit may nagalit? May tinamaan ba? (It is like this, ‘Stone thrown in the sky, if anyone gets hit, don’t get mad.’ Why did someone get angry? Did the President’s statement hit anyone)?” she added.
She also said the President was not hitting on anyone when he said that someone was just asked to buy vinegar and ended up filing his or her certificate of candidacy (COC).
She said what the President meant was candidates should know what the work of a senator entails.
“Ang request natin, doon sa mga tatakbo, siguraduhin ninyo naman po kapag nanalo kayo ay may alam na kayo. Iyon lang po (Our request is for those who are running, make sure that when you win, you are already aware of what you will do. That’s it),” she added.
As this developed, Castro said the administration would just ignore the “nonsense” remarks of some political rivals even while it, led by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), intensifies its campaign against fake news and disinformation, especially on social media.
Castro said Malacañang backs the proposal to come up with a law penalizing the spread of false information and fake news.
She, however, said a thorough study must be done to ensure that it does not violate the right of anyone to freedom of expression.
She said the law must also clearly define what is fake news and disinformation as well as the limitation and how to gauge if a statement is fake or false.
Castro also suggested the registration of all content creators to stop the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.
Administration candidate and former Senate President Vicente Sotto III has said that he would push for a bill against fake news if he is elected.
