PCOO supports probe on fake news but...

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Communications Operations Office is supportive of a congressional probe on the proliferation of fake news but believes that the government should not regulate the media. 

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said it is important to distinguish between legitimate media organizations and fake news sites that peddle false information.

“The problem with fake news is about determining the fake organizations and the bona fide media organizations. That is what we should do first. Once we identify them, let us look at the cause,” Andanar told radio station dzBB in Filipino on Saturday.

“I support calls in the Senate and Congress to conduct a hearing in aid of legislation on fake news,” he added.

Andanar noted that it is possible that the relaying of inaccurate information was unintentional.

“If it is an inaccurate information from legitimate media organization, perhaps the reason is shortcoming in the workflow and procedure. Definitely, it is not intentional,” he said.

Asked if he thinks a law is needed to curb fake news, Andanar said: “Well, it depends. Of course, it will be crafted by the Senate and Congress. What is important is identify first the fake and the legitimate.”

Andanar, a former news reader for TV5, said the media should remain free from government regulation.

“The media is self-regulated. We are not covered by the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission)…It is just right that we are not covered by PRC. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press should not be regulated by the government,” he added.

Earlier, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, called for an inquiry on the proliferation of fake news in the Internet.

Trillanes filed Senate Resolution no. 259 which aims to look into the spread of false information and the emergence of “social media trolls.” The senator defined trolls as those who deliberately create or foments discord and conflict on social media sites through the posting of controversial and inflammatory messages. 

Sen. Joel Villanueva has also filed Senate Bill no. 1492, which aims to impose stiffer fines and penalties on those who produce and peddle fake news. Under the bill, the fines and penalties are stiffer if the purveyor of fake news is a government official.

Some government officials have been accused of being sources of fake news. Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre accused opposition Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV of meeting with the Lucman and Alonto clans in Marawi weeks before terrorists attacked the city.

The justice chief later on claimed that he was misquoted by the media.

State-run Philippine News Agency recently drew flak for using a wrong photo in a story about the Marawi crisis. The government news agency used a Vietnam War photo from media file repository Wikimedia Commons. 

PCOO Assistant Secretary and Duterte administration flamethrower Mocha Uson was also heavily criticized for using a photo of the Honduras police in a social network post urging the public to pray for Filipino troops in Marawi.