MANILA, Philippines – No distraction of government efforts to overcome the novel coronavirus-acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) will be tolerated.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra made this stand when asked to justify his order to conduct an investigation and case build-up on misinformation and spread of fake news.
On Tuesday, Guevarra ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the spread of misinformation and fake news about the virus.
Although press freedom and freedom of speech are well alive in the country, Guevarra said such constitutional rights have limitations.
“I have personally observed a slew of internet/social media communications that tend to sow panic and confusion regarding this public health issue, and it was also raised during the Senate hearing yesterday,” Guevarra told reporters.
Guevarra pointed out that he issued the directive in an effort to stop the panic caused by fake news.
He said the imminent harm that sought to be avoided by the directive was the “undue panic and alarm in part, but also undermining government efforts for a unified and coordinated approach to a common threat that affects us all.”
Guevarra said those who would be caught spreading fake news and sowing disinformation may be slapped with a complaint under the Revised Penal Code in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Law.
“The nCoV threat is a very serious public concern and no distraction of government efforts to overcome it will be tolerated,” he said.
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