Duterte not keen on banning Facebook in PH, says Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos do not have to worry about President Rodrigo Duterte banning Facebook in the country.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made this assurance Tuesday, hours after the President appeared to have threatened to forbid Facebook in the country following the social media giant’s shutting down of fake accounts and pages that include those that were linked to the Philippine military and police.

In an online briefing, Roque said banning Facebook in the country will be a disadvantage for both Facebook and Filipinos.

“Hindi naman po siguro kasi ang sinabi ng Presidente, kinakailangan mag-usap,” Roque said when asked if Duterte is looking at prohibiting the social media platform in the country.

(Maybe not because what the President said, they need to talk.)

Duterte berated Facebook on Monday night, apparently offended over what he describes as the social media network laying down policy on the Philippine government after taking down pages supportive of the administration.

“Parehong hindi mabuti ‘yan sa Facebook at Pilipinas. Number one po kasi sa buong mundo tayo sa Facebook. Kung mawawala tayo, malaking kawalan po ‘yan sa Facebook,” Roque said.

(It won’t be good for Facebook and the Philippines. We are number one in the world who use Facebook. If we are removed from the platform, it will be a loss to Facebook.)

“Pero at the same time, dahil number one nga tayo, maraming Pilipino ang gumagamit ng Facebook na maaapetkuhan,” he added.

(But, at the same time, since we are number one, Filipinos who use Facebook will be affected.)

Facebook has shut down China-based fake accounts and pages that were supportive of the President and the possible 2022 election bid of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. It also closed down pages traced to the military and police.

“Coordinated inauthentic behavior” was observed in the accounts and pages that were taken down, which according to Facebook’s community standards, refers to the use of multiple accounts to “mislead people.”

KGA