Manila: The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Monday expressed its support for the establishment of an independent fact-checking body, while emphasizing that the government's primary approach to combating false online content remains public debunking and coordination with law enforcement.
According to Philippines News Agency, PCO Undersecretary Ramon Ilagan made this clear during a Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media hearing on proposed measures against fake news and online disinformation. Ilagan explained that the PCO does not possess the authority to mandate the immediate removal of false content, as the agency's responsibilities are centered around public education.
Ilagan stated, "As far as the PCO is concerned, that is really beyond our control to take down. Our role is to educate our people." He highlighted that the PCO initiated a media and information literacy campaign in 2023 aimed at helping Filipinos identify and discern fake news, misinformation, and disinformation due to the significant impact of false information.
The campaign, named 'Maging Mapanuri (Be discerning),' is designed to encourage Filipinos, particularly the youth, to become critical and discerning consumers of online content. On the enforcement front, Ilagan noted that the government's immediate response to false information is to publicly debunk it, while working in conjunction with authorities under existing laws. He mentioned the PCO's collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Philippine National Police, and National Bureau of Investigation under anti-cybercrime laws.
Meanwhile, PCO Undersecretary Precious Castelo voiced the agency's support for legislative proposals aimed at enhancing accountability and transparency on digital platforms. She referred to proposed Senate Bill No. 1441, also known as the Social Media Fairness and Algorithmic Transparency Act of 2025, and recommended the formation of a Digital Media Integrity Council.
Castelo emphasized the preference for the term "false information" over "fake news," underscoring the necessity for clear standards and independent fact-checking to ascertain the misleading nature of online content. Senators are considering these proposed measures to institutionalize fact-checking, improve coordination among agencies and platforms, and address false online content without compromising legitimate freedom of expression.
