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Philippine authorities have escalated efforts to combat online disinformation after the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) endorsed complaints against three Facebook accounts for allegedly spreading false information about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s health condition.
The PCO’s Anti-Fake News Desk submitted the endorsement to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, targeting accounts that reportedly circulated fabricated claims about the President being critically ill.
According to the PCO, a Facebook account called “Iloy Bugris: The Queen of Revelations” conducted live broadcasts falsely claiming the President was suffering from serious health issues. The account allegedly monetized these broadcasts by soliciting donations through GCash and BPI bank accounts, displaying the details on screen during live sessions. Officials stated the account also presented fabricated medical documents to lend credibility to the false claims.
Two additional accounts were named in the endorsement. An account under the name “Rigondola Ping” allegedly posted manipulated images showing President Marcos in a physically distressed state. The PCO confirmed these images were digitally altered and did not represent actual events. A third account, “Crage Anderpal,” reportedly published graphic content falsely claiming there was official confirmation of a serious presidential health condition.
DOJ Spokesperson Atty. Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez clarified the nature of the PCO’s action, noting it does not constitute a formal complaint. “Just to be clear, this is not a formal complaint. What will happen here, knowing that the DOJ cannot be the formal complainant, is that the PCO endorsed it to us,” Martinez explained.
The DOJ will now forward the matter to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which will assess the evidence to determine whether formal charges are warranted.
This latest action follows a similar complaint endorsed on April 7 against “Malasakit News Pilipinas,” a Facebook page that allegedly spread false reports about an energy emergency. That page was deleted the day after the complaint was filed.
The crackdown comes amid heightened concerns about the impact of disinformation on public trust and political stability in the Philippines, where social media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and political discourse. Facebook, in particular, remains one of the most popular platforms in the country, with an estimated 83.85 million users as of early 2023.
In a related development, the PCO signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the DOJ and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Monday to strengthen interagency coordination in investigating and prosecuting cases of online disinformation.
The PCO warned that spreading false information could result in criminal charges under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code. When committed online, such acts may also violate provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which enhances penalties for crimes committed through information and communication technologies.
Digital rights advocates have previously expressed concerns about potential overreach in government efforts to combat “fake news,” warning of possible chilling effects on legitimate speech and press freedom. However, government officials maintain that targeted enforcement against deliberate disinformation is necessary to protect public interest.
The Anti-Fake News Desk has stated it will continue monitoring online content and referring cases for investigation and prosecution when deliberate spreading of false information is detected, signaling an ongoing campaign against what authorities consider harmful disinformation.
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11 Comments
It’s crucial that the public can trust information about their elected leaders, especially when it comes to health. The PCO is right to crack down on these deceptive practices.
Manipulated images and fabricated documents are dangerous tools used to mislead the public. The PCO is right to crack down on these malicious tactics.
Exactly. Spreading misinformation, especially about a president’s health, is a serious offense that deserves consequences.
Fabricating medical documents is a disturbing tactic used to lend credibility to false claims. I’m glad the authorities are taking this threat to public information seriously.
Disinformation campaigns that target political figures are especially harmful. The PCO is right to clamp down on these deceptive tactics before they can spread further.
Spreading misinformation for personal gain is a troubling trend we’ve seen too much of lately. Kudos to the PCO for taking decisive action to combat these tactics.
It’s concerning to see bad actors trying to profit off of false health claims. I hope the DOJ investigation leads to real accountability for these Facebook accounts.
Spreading false health claims for profit is unethical and undermines public trust. I’m glad the authorities are taking action to combat this disinformation.
While people are free to criticize their leaders, outright lies and manipulated content cross a line. I support the PCO’s efforts to hold these accounts accountable.
Monetizing false health claims about the president is a new low. I hope the DOJ investigation leads to real consequences for these Facebook pages.
While freedom of speech is important, spreading blatant lies for financial gain crosses an ethical line. The PCO is justified in pursuing legal action in this case.