Police and Media Join Forces to Combat Fake News in Davao Occidental

Law enforcement officials and media representatives in Davao Occidental province have formed a united front to combat the rising tide of misinformation in the digital age. The commitment was solidified during a recent Anti-Fake News Consultative Forum hosted by the Davao Occidental Police Provincial Office (DOcPPO) at their headquarters in Malita.

The gathering brought together police personnel and radio broadcasters to address growing concerns about the harmful effects of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation on public safety and community trust.

“Our digital duty as one united force is to fight fake news, which is now an integral part of our role. It is a form of community safety,” said DOcPPO provincial director PCol. Sherwin M. Butil during the forum.

Butil emphasized that criminal elements are increasingly weaponizing social media platforms to spread false narratives designed to create public panic, undermine government institutions, and even interfere with legal processes. He stressed that tackling this challenge has become a fundamental responsibility of law enforcement agencies seeking to maintain social order.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) of Davao Region provided valuable insights during the event, helping participants better understand the nature of false information, ethical journalism practices, responsible information sharing, and the complexities involved in investigating cybercrimes.

PLTCOL. Elinar F. Agustin, chief of DOcPPO’s Police Community Affairs and Development Unit, highlighted the urgency of addressing false information’s rapid spread. “As members of the community, we recognize the importance of promoting truth and accuracy in our information ecosystem. That is why we’re here today, to equip ourselves with the skills to identify and combat fake news,” Agustin explained.

The potentially devastating impact of misinformation extends beyond mere confusion, potentially threatening people’s rights, dignity, and the stability of entire communities, according to officials present at the forum.

Community Affairs Section chief PCPT. Lope Prado from the Police Regional Office emphasized education as a critical component of the solution. “Through social awareness and education, we can teach our people the difference between freedom of speech and public harm, including the legal consequences of spreading false information,” Prado noted.

Media representatives from local radio stations Max FM and Sky Radio also voiced their strong opposition to disseminating information based on falsehoods, underscoring the media’s ethical responsibility to verify information before broadcasting it to the public.

The forum drew participation from a diverse group of stakeholders, including heads of the five Municipal Police Stations across Davao Occidental, provincial government representatives, officials from the Department of Information and Communications Technology, personnel from the 73rd Infantry Battalion, and members of faith-based communities in Malita.

“Their presence demonstrated strong interagency support and a shared commitment to fostering a well-informed and resilient community,” Butil remarked about the broad attendance.

The event reflects growing concerns across the Philippines about the proliferation of fake news, particularly as the country continues to experience rapid digitalization with increasing social media penetration. Government agencies and media organizations nationwide have been implementing similar initiatives to strengthen digital literacy and promote responsible online behavior.

The Anti-Fake News Consultative Forum is part of DOcPPO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen digital literacy in the region, promote responsible information sharing practices, and protect the integrity of both law enforcement operations and the broader community. Officials indicated that similar collaborative efforts would continue as part of a sustained campaign against misinformation in Davao Occidental.