Charles Teves
Vice President Leni Robredo’s camp seeks to take legal actions against individuals who thrive on spreading misinformation and fake news on social media after she leaves office on June 30.
Robredo’s spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez said disinformation is an attack on the country’s democracy.
“Sa darating na mga linggo at buwan, tayo ay maglulunsad ng isang malawakang pagkilos at inisyatiba para tugunan at kalabanin itong paninira at paglaganap nitong fake news at kasinungalingan sa social media. Klaro na itong klase ng kalakaran ay nakakasira sa ating demokrasya at maayos na diskursong pampubliko,” he said during an appearance on the vice president’s weekly radio program.
“Pinaguusapan, kasama ng ilang grupo ng mga abogado, ang pagsasampa ng kaso laban doon sa mga tao na pinipilit na ipagpatuloy ito at posible ding laban doon sa mga mismong plataporma na nagho-host ng mga ganitong klaseng materyales gayang mga social media platforms na meron tayo sa kasalukuyan,” he added.
Gutierrez clarified that the campaign against fake news isn’t for Robredo only, who has been the top target of social media disinformation in the recent elections.
“Para din ito sa kapakanan at kabutihan ng ating buong bansa at ng ating buong lipunan. Kailangan mapalabas natin ‘yung totoo. Kailangan ang ating usapan ay nakabatay sa katotohanan at datos, at hindi sa fake news,” he said.
Robredo previously acknowledged that disinformation played a huge part in the election results and that her camp isn’t ruling out investigating possible election irregularities.
Kakampinks aren’t the only group supporting the initiative but others. The excitement for the new campaign was evident on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/jabez/status/1539113018801496068?s=20&t=7ve5SJnzm6zc6d58HjQj7A
It's better late than never. https://t.co/DiiYISLMN8
— j (@JNNRJK) June 21, 2022
Facebook helped #duterte get elected via #disinformation. TiKTok helped #Marcotete get elected for the same reason.
And then there’s the queen of fake news — Imee Marcos.
Push back. Fight back. https://t.co/uMIhDG3rhQ
— BinoARealuyo ✊ (@BinoARealuyo) June 21, 2022
Model citizens have been waiting long for fake news spreaders to face legal consequences, and many might just after Robredo ends her term.
https://twitter.com/goddessyk13/status/1538889809728458753?s=20&t=7ve5SJnzm6zc6d58HjQj7A
YESS REPUTATION ERA https://t.co/fzRorWGuua pic.twitter.com/vdYSRteOaW
— ★zænj彡 (@TAYLORKINESlS) June 20, 2022
However, there is still the threat of being red-tagged by the opposition.
https://twitter.com/Mastershifuuuu/status/1539141694675124225?s=20&t=7ve5SJnzm6zc6d58HjQj7A
May mga nagsasabi dapat maaga pa nya ito ginawa, but that's ok. Time nya ngayon to do it on her own capacity & besides, kung mas maraming grupo at indibidwal ang magsasama-sama para labanan ang disinformation & historical revisionism, marami ang mamumulat sa katotohanan. https://t.co/wByiiXhysu
— John Paulo Valdez (@jpvaldez_2020) June 21, 2022
https://twitter.com/iHAPtraveler/status/1539076130786856963?s=20&t=7ve5SJnzm6zc6d58HjQj7A
While Robredo suffered the most from disinformation, President-elect Bongbong Marcos benefited the most.
“Marami po talaga, every week, she is the biggest victim of disinformation or negative messaging, whether it’s about the typhoon, COVID-19 response, and all sorts,” TsekPH head Yvonne Chua told Senators earlier this year.
“Marami po talaga, every week, she is the biggest victim of disinformation or negative messaging, whether it’s about the typhoon, COVID-19 response, and all sorts,” she added.
Chua noted that what Robredo went through was also experienced by Bam Aquino and Mar Roxas in the 2019 senatorial elections. Both were leading the surveys but eventually lost with the help of fake news.
“Unfortunately, the trend persists despite the efforts to curb misinformation. A lot has come out ahead of May elections,” Chua said.
