MANILA — The Philippine government has launched a coordinated effort to confront the growing threat of fake news, targeting social media influencers, vloggers, and online content creators believed to be spreading disinformation. What began as a congressional inquiry into viral claims surrounding the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for former President Rodrigo Duterte has now evolved into a broader crackdown involving multiple state agencies.
The inquiry was formally initiated through House Resolution No. 1499, filed by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, calling on Congress to investigate the surge of disinformation allegedly peddled by vloggers and social media personalities. Her resolution expressed concern about coordinated campaigns undermining public trust, institutions, and factual discourse.
As a result, the House Tri-Committee—composed of the Committees on Public Order and Safety, Information and Communications Technology, and Public Information—was convened, with Rep. Dan Fernandez of Santa Rosa City serving as the lead chairperson for the investigation.
Social Media Missteps Under the Microscope
Among those questioned were pro-Duterte blogger Krizette Laureta Chu, political commentator MJ Quiambao Reyes, and influencer Mark Lopez. Chu was asked to clarify her March post claiming that police and military officers were preparing mass resignations in protest of Duterte’s arrest. During the hearing, Chu admitted her information was based on sentiments she observed on TikTok, not on direct or official sources.
“No police officer told me directly that they were resigning,” Chu said, according to a report by Inquirer.net. Reyes and Lopez also issued public apologies for publishing unverified content, pledging to adopt stricter standards in their online posts. All three acknowledged lapses in judgment.
Lawmakers Push for Accountability
House lawmakers insisted that apologies alone are not enough. Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., speaking to Manila Standard, warned against minimizing the impact of disinformation, especially in matters related to human rights. “These apologies are a start, but they are not enough. If these vloggers are truly sincere, they must stop spreading lies and start presenting the truth—not their so-called ‘truth,’ but the real, honest-to-God truth,” Abante said. He also condemned efforts to dismiss extrajudicial killings as fabricated, calling such claims “an insult to the victims and the institutions that investigated these crimes.”
Taguig Rep. Pammy Zamora, in a statement to Manila Bulletin, said the arrest of a Cebu-based vlogger underscores the consequences of peddling false information. “Freedom of expression is not freedom to deceive,” she emphasized. “If you choose to peddle fake news, there are consequences.”
The committee is also considering contempt citations against those who failed to appear at hearings despite being summoned, including Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz. “Please don’t force us to cite you in contempt,” Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano told reporters, according to Philstar.com.
NBI Investigates Fake News Networks
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has launched a parallel probe into organized disinformation networks. NBI Director Jaime Santiago, in an interview with Philstar.com, confirmed that at least 20 individuals are under investigation. “There is a clear indication of coordinated content production and dissemination,” Santiago said, noting that the NBI is working with Interpol to trace individuals operating from overseas.
Although no official NBI press release has been issued, Santiago’s statements to the media have provided insight into the scope of the investigation, which includes tracking funding sources and digital fingerprints.
Government Institutions Mobilize Against Disinformation
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has echoed concerns about the divisive impact of disinformation on Filipino society. On March 21, PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz stated on the agency’s official website that “Filipinos are being pitted against Filipinos” through fake news and online manipulation. Ruiz emphasized that digital polarization poses a growing threat to national unity.
To combat this, the PCO signed a memorandum of agreement with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), launched a fact-check initiative across state-run media, and coordinated with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Ruiz described the response as a “whole-of-government approach” to addressing the digital threat.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also acknowledged the essential role of ethical journalism in this fight. “Their words serve as our strongest defense against misinformation and fake news,” he said in a PCO-issued statement.
Sotto Renews Push for Anti-Fake News Law
In the Senate, former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who is running for re-election in the 2025 Philippine midterm elections under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), has renewed his push to criminalize the deliberate spread of fake news. Speaking to GMA News, Sotto reaffirmed his commitment to refile the Anti-False Content Act, originally introduced in 2019 as Senate Bill No. 9.
“If we make it back to the Senate, it’s one of the first bills that I will file,” he said. “Anti-fake news and anti-fake content—and penalties for those who produce those fake news.”
Shaping the Digital Future
With lawmakers demanding accountability, law enforcement tracking coordinated falsehoods, and government agencies launching public education campaigns, the Philippines stands at a pivotal moment in the fight against disinformation.
