Robredo calls on youth, ‘digital natives’ to fight misinformation online

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential contender Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday urged her supporters, especially the youth — whom she called “digital natives” — to fight misinformation being spread by other political candidates online.

“Ang problema po, dahil sa social media, ‘yung mga sinasabi natin, binabaliktad para akalain ng tao na wala tayong maayos na programa para sa kanila,” said Robredo during a political rally in Naval, Biliran.

(The problem is, because of social media, what we say is being turned upside down to make people think that we don’t have a good program for them.)

But the youth, said Robredo, have the access to information that can correct falsehoods being  propagated by her opponents who twist her statements and put her in a bad light.

“Karamihan po sa inyo mga kabataan, mga digital natives …. Alam niyo kung ano ‘yung kasinungalingan, ano ‘yung katotohanan. Kaya dapat ipaglaban natin na ang laging mamamayani, katotohanan,” said Robredo.

(Most of you young people are digital natives …. You know what a lie is, what the truth is. So we must fight, to ensure that truth will always prevail.)

She then cited a recent incident where a statement she made on the maritime industry was mangled to convey the opposite of what she said. 

“Grabe ‘yung kasinungalingan (the lies are too much),” said Robredo.

The contender reiterated that the maritime industry is one of her flagship programs, announcing several times in the past her plans to turn the country to a “maritime power.”

“Pero, dahil po sa fake news, ‘yung akin pong statement ay pinutol-putol (but, because of fake news, my statement was cut off),” she lamented.

“Ang sinabi ko po noon, ang daming oportunidad dahil mahuhusay ‘yung seafarers natin kaya dapat tulungan natin sila sa skills training na magpapataas pa ng kanilang sweldo,” she said.

(What I said was that there are many opportunities because we have excellent seafarers, we should help them with skills training that will increase their salary.)

Meanwhile, senatorial candidate and former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes, who is running under the Robredo-Pangilinan slate, said that many millennials are already fighting back the “well-paid trolls of the other camp.”

“There is a push back from young people. Mga community-based volunteers. Ang daming  (there are many) independent initiatives to fact-check,” he said.

He added that even people within the education sector – both teachers and students – are fighting lies with truth.

“Hindi naman nakakapagtaka kasi lahat ng malalaking paaralan ang inendorso si VP Leni. Sa mga surveys sa campuses, lahat lamang ang team Leni-Kiko,” said Trillanes.

(Not surprisingly since all major schools endorse VP Leni. Leni-Kiko also led at first place in all campus surveys.)

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