Sotto pushes for law vs fake news online

MANILA, Philippines — After a blogger admitted that he was paid to slander administration candidates during the May 2019 midterm elections, Senate President Vicente Sotto III insisted on Friday that a law should be passed against fake news.

Dennis Jose Borbon, 24, who was arrested last Wednesday in Malabon City, claimed he was hired by former Senator Bam Aquino to launch an online smear job against all administration candidates including himself during the election campaign.

READ: Go: Con man’s arrest bares smear job vs admin bets

Aquino had denied the allegation as he dismissed Borbon as an attention seeker.

“This is why we need to make a law on fake news. Maraming tao ang nabibiktima ng maling balita o impormasyon,” Sotto said in a statement.

“Ano ang proteksyon natin sa mga paid hacks? Paano matatanggal ang maling impormasyon?,” he added.

Sotto has filed a bill that would penalize the spread of fake news in websites and social media platforms. His bill seeks to impose penalties of up to P2 million or imprisonment for violators.

READ: Sotto files bill penalizing fake news on internet

“There is wisdom behind my bill. We should all be protected from criminals using the internet to destroy our name, reputation and dignity,” the Senate President said. /muf