MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants an intensified campaign against misinformation and disinformation, as he is “slightly affected” by the alarming surge in fake news on social media platforms, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos is seeking the PCO’s help in combatting fake news, considering that the First Family is being targeted by persons who are purveying false information.
“He is slightly affected. So, that’s why they asked the PCO to do its job to counter fake news, not only for himself but for the country,” Castro said.
Castro said Marcos is dismayed over the proliferation of fake news on the internet and social media.
“Kaya po tayo nandito ay para labanan ang fake news. Iyan din po ang ating naging unang trabaho – kalabanin ang fake news (That's why we're here to fight fake news. That's also our first job – fighting fake news),” Castro said.
Citing a study on the rise of fake news, Castro said there is a network that propagates negative news or misinformation “against the President and favoring the Vice President.”
Castro said the First Family has also become a victim of fake news since the political feud between Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte emerged last year.
Asked if she thinks the Duterte family is behind the fake news against the First Family, Castro said: “I’m not accusing anybody but a lot of people are propagating misinformation against the President and the country.”
The PCO, the government’s lead communications arm, earlier signed a memorandum of agreement with the Cybercrime Investigation Coordinating Center (CICC) to ramp up the fight against fake news and scam activities.
Under the MOA, the PCO and the CICC agreed to recognize the Inter-Agency Response Center (I-ARC) Hotline 1326 as the national anti-scam hotline and promote the eGOVPH application’s e-Report function for scam reporting.
The PCO and the CICC would also collaborate for anti-scam and deepfake education campaigns.
The PCO is also seeking private media’s help to combat fake news. (PNA)