Alyansa Senate bets bat for law, stronger action vs fake news
MANILA, Philippines — Senate candidates under the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas are determined to combat fake news, batting for the creation of an anti-fake news law.
At a press conference in Cavite on Friday, the senatorial candidates were questioned one by one on what their stand was on the supposedly worsening cases of fake news, especially following the developments on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto said that an anti-fake news law is among his top priorities should he get reelected.
“Hindi lang fake news pati fake content (Not only fake news but also fake content)… and I’m ready for the bill to be filed. The other thing is if we make it back to the Senate, it’s one of the first bills that I will file. Anti-fake news and anti-fake content and penalties for those who produce those fake news,” said Sotto.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, for his part, said he himself had been a victim of fake news, emphasizing that he wants to support any initiative that would fair out the truth without diminishing freedom of expression.
Former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, meanwhile, echoed his allies’ remarks, likewise voicing out the need for a law to combat fake news and fake content.
“I believe lahat tayo magiging biktima nyan one of these days kapag hindi ho natin ika-nga bantayan ‘yan. We have to have a law otherwise you, me, all of us magiging biktima po ng fake news na ‘yan, fake content,” said Tulfo.
(I believe all of us will be victims of this one of these days if we don’t take action. We have to have a law, otherwise you, me, all of you will be victims of fake news and fake content.)
Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said that more than legislation, there is likewise a need to strengthen enforcement of policies to capture those who are spreading fake news.
“So siguro kailangan nating pagtibayin ang kapulisan on how they trace… trace this fake content makers and talagang… kung baga sa hulihin sila… kung yung mga na-scam nga ng pera, hindi natin mahanap, ano pa yung gumagawa ng fake news,” she said.
(So we really need to strengthen the capabilities of the police on how they trace these fake content makers and capture them.)
Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos noted that when he was still a member of the administration’s Cabinet, there was a time that the country’s biggest crime was theft but it was overtaken by cybercrimes.
“Sa bilis ng teknolohiya our laws but must catch up with them. I also agree with of course my colleagues about new legislation regarding this,” said Abalos.
(Amid the rise of technology, our law must catch up. I also agree with, of course, my colleagues about a new legislation regarding this.)
The senators are in Cavite to woo voters in the vote-rich province.
Cavite has been known as a critical area and decisive battleground for candidates, as the province has over 2.4 million registered voters.
