‘We will fight back harder’: Hontiveros warns fake news peddlers

Senator Risa Hontiveros delivers a speech after taking her oath of office before Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, June 27, 2022. Photo from Sen. Hontiveros’ office

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday hit peddlers of false information, saying she will “fight back harder against rumors, lies, propaganda, and fake news.”

While Hontiveros remains a staunch advocate of protecting the public’s constitutional freedoms and most basic human rights, she said bearing false information will not be tolerated.

“I remain a staunch advocate in protecting our constitutional freedoms and our most basic human rights: freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press. All these are fully guaranteed,” Hontiveros, who was re-elected to the Senate, said after taking her oath of office.

“But we will not tolerate people who bear false information. We will fight back harder, against rumors, lies, propaganda, and fake news,” she added, as she sent a “stern warning” to the “dubious characters” in the “fake news universe.”

“This is a stern warning to all the dubious characters in the fake news universe. This time, we will not let your reckless disregard for truth slander our democracy, our country ever again,” she stressed.

As part of the Senate, Hontiveros has also pledged to support and empower the Filipino people as she prepares to submit a number of her bills for consideration in the 19th Congress.

Among the bills to be refiled is the Universal Social Pension for senior citizens, the magna carta for workers, and a bill for the maternity benefits of female workers.

Hontiveros aims to help spur economic growth and restore healthcare services amid the pandemic.

“We will help spur economic growth and restore healthcare services disrupted by the pandemic. As promised, we will facilitate and increase the budgets for agencies integral to our recovery initiatives. Tuloy pa rin ang ating adbokasiya para sa Health Buhay at Hanapbuhay,” she said.

(We will help spur economic growth and restore healthcare services disrupted by the pandemic. As promised, we will facilitate and increase the budgets for agencies integral to our recovery initiatives. Our advocacy for Healthy Buhay at Hanapbuhay will continue.)

The senator also called for an increased budget for the agriculture sector.

“Ipaglalaban natin na itaas ang budget para sa agrikultura, kasama ang ating mga stakeholders. Handa rin ang aking opisina para sa mga diskusyon ukol sa krisis sa pagkain,” she said.

(Together with our stakeholders, we will fight for the increased budget for agriculture. My office is also ready to participate in the discussions concerning the food crisis.)

Hontiveros, citing the Department of Agriculture, warned that the country faces an expected shortage of corn, feeds, fish, and pork this year.

With the incoming new administration, Hontiveros also urged her fellow newly elected officials to be united in ensuring the welfare of the Filipino people.

“We have always been a nation choosing to hope: for a fresh start, for better outcomes, for progress. But we have no time to lose. Every effort counts. Every day is a chance for me, and for us in government, to do justice to every Filipino,” Hontiveros ended. — Iliana Padigos, trainee

JMS/abc