MALACAÑANG is looking at the possible filing of charges against personalities allegedly spreading fake news, misinformation and disinformation as it ramps up government efforts to stop the spread of wrong information related to the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“Pinag-aaralan po natin iyan (we are studying that),” Communications Secretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing in Malacañang when asked if they are going to charge anyone for spreading fake news.
She said Malacañang is coordinating with concerned agencies about the monitoring and investigation related to the matter.
“Siguro po uunahin natin mismo iyong mga unang nagsalita ng fake news – so, uunahin po ba natin si former ES (executive secretary Salvador) Medialdea. Kaya sabi ko po kanina ay pag-aaralan po muna (We would prioritize the first ones who released fake news, including former ES Medialdea. That’s why I said we are studying it first],” she said when asked if the probe and charges would include fake news that are not related to Duterte.
Castro noted that Medialdea last week made a remark that Duterte, who is already under ICC custody, was allegedly “missing,” which she said to the public’s confusion.
She said it was an irresponsible statement and the ICC itself has answered that Duterte was not missing but simply underwent medical check up.
Castro said another similar incident is when Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte claimed that a raid would be conducted in the Duterte homein Davao City, which prompted several supporters of the former president to converge in front of his house.
She said the police led by Criminal and detection Group head Major General Nick Torre III had said that no such raid was planned or conducted.
“Can we consider this as fake news? Can be. Uunahin ba natin silang idemanda dahil nagpakalat ng ganito? Pag-aaralan pero noong sinabi po ni General Torre na walang ganoong operasyon, hindi po ba ang isinagawa nilang pagsasabi na may pagri-raid ay nakagulo sa isipan ng mga taga-Davao City (Can we consider this as fake news? Can be. Should we sue them first for spreading these? Let us study it but when General Torre said there is no such operation, didn’t their statements about a planned raid confused the people of Davao City)”, she added.
DEBT OF GRATITUDE
Castro, meanwhile, said a debt of gratitude should not prevent the government and its leaders from implementing and following the law.
She made the remarks after Mayor Duterte denounced President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his supposed lack of gratitude when he allowed the arrest of the former president.
The younger Duterte reminded the president that it was during his father’s administration that the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., father of the incumbent chief executive, was allowed to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016.
Castro said the president, when he was still a senator, had already acknowledged and thanked the elder Duterte for the act.
‘’Hindi po dapat mahinto ng utang na loob ang pagpapatupad ng batas. Hindi po dapat traydurin ang pagpapatupad ng commitment with the Interpol (The implementation of the law should not be stopped by a debt of gratitude. We should not renege on out commitment with Interpol because of that)” she said.
Castro said that on August 10, 2016, then senator Marcos thanked the elder Duterte for allowing the burial to take place. The late president was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on November 18, 2016.
Amid the criticisms against the president and the administration, Castro said Marcos is not onion skinned and supports the Filipinos’ expression of their free speech including support for his predecessor, Duterte.
“The President is not onion skinned, okay. Usually po, hindi po siya nadadala ng ganyan pero kapag po nandoon na po iyong elemento ng inciting to sedition which is of course without any tumultuous uprising but they are encouraging people to sow hatred to the government, to the President then we have to step up (The President is not onion skinned. He is often not affected by those things. However, if there are elements such as inciting to sedition, which is of course without any tumultuous uprising but they are encouraging people to sow hatred to the government, to the president then we have to step up),” she said.
