By Lane Afable, News Editor
Malacañang warned that vloggers spreading misinformation may face legal consequences, including possible criminal charges, damages, and arrest warrants.
“Whatever they are doing, they should face the consequences,” said Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.
In a press briefing at the RDC Hall of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Region VI (Western Visayas) in Iloilo City, Castro said those who spread fake news could be made to pay damages, face criminal charges, and be issued arrest warrants.
“First of all, if we use common sense, fake news peddlers should no longer be warned.
“They already know what they are doing is wrong. So ‘warning’ is not the appropriate word for them.
“They know what they are doing. They know it is wrong. They know they are only trying to smear others,” the Palace Press Officer added.
According to Castro, those who spread fake news may be held liable for damages, cyber libel, and for disseminating false information that affects public order.
The PCO Undersecretary clarified that these penalties may be imposed on anyone who violates the law by spreading fake news.
“All those who spread fake news—we are talking about fake news. We are not curtailing anybody’s freedom of expression. That is not covered, and that is not what we are restricting,” Castro said. “Only those spreading fake news.”
Castro said the PCO has already submitted an endorsement for further investigation against the three vloggers allegedly responsible for spreading fake news.
“If there will be a case to be filed against them, then they should be held liable for that,” Castro emphasized.
Earlier, the PCO, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Department of Justice (DOJ) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to strengthen coordination against fake news, disinformation, and AI-generated deepfakes.
The agreement, signed by PCO Acting Secretary Dave M. Gomez, DICT Secretary Henry R. Aguda, and Acting DOJ Secretary Frederick A. Vida, establishes a whole-of-government approach to combat misinformation that threatens public safety, national security, and democratic institutions.
Gomez stressed the importance of the initiative, saying, “We are confronting a rapidly evolving information landscape where truth is increasingly vulnerable to distortion and manipulation.”
On April 15, the DOJ reviewed three Facebook accounts endorsed by the PCO for possible filing of charges after allegedly spreading fabricated reports about President Marcos’ health.
Vida confirmed the PCO’s endorsement and said his office would issue a decision within 10 days from receipt of the endorsement.
