Ang Pahayagan

MANILA – A lawmaker on Monday proposed the creation of a Digital Council of the Philippines to craft its own code of ethics and combat the spread of fake news in the country.

In a press conference, Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman said the proposed council would be composed of registered content creators, digital advertisers and public relations firms, as well as representatives from social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) and artificial intelligence (AI) groups.

Representatives from government agencies such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) would also be included in the council to ensure enforcement, according to Roman.

“The key is self-regulation… The right to freedom of expression is sacred. It is something constitutional. So when we legislate, we always try to find the least restrictive means,” Roman said.

“Naniniwala tayo na kapag may code of standards, code of ethics [na] na susundan, binigyan ng konting ngipin ang isang grupo na hindi naman government-controlled, ay magiging effective ‘yung pamamaraan nito para labanan ang fake news (We believe that when there is a code of standards, a code of ethics that is followed, and a group that is given some authority but is not government-controlled, this method will be effective in fighting fake news),” she added.

Aside from establishing ethical standards in the digital space, Roman said the council would also serve as a platform for individuals to file complaints if they become victims of fake news.

She highlighted its capability to fact-check content within 48 hours, using technical means to verify the authenticity of information.

“Once found to be false, ipa-flag ngayon ito (Once found to be false, it will be flagged),” she said.

House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega V echoed Roman’s sentiments, warning that everyone —not just politicians and public servants— can fall victim to fake news.

“Kailangan maging mapanuri po tayo sa nakikita natin online (We need to be discerning about what we see online),” he said.

He said campaigns against fake news should begin at the grassroots level, including in schools and government offices, to address related issues such as mental health and bullying.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is exploring the possibility of establishing a regulatory body to monitor and evaluate social media content to address the growing problem on fake news.

In a media interview Monday, PCO Acting Secretary Jay Ruiz revealed that discussions are ongoing regarding the potential creation of a social media regulatory body.

“Pinag-aaralan natin ‘yan na sana magkaroon kahit papano lalo na sa mabibigat na issues (We are studying the possible creation of a social media regulatory body, especially when it comes to sensitive issues),” Ruiz said.

Ruiz likened the regulation of social media to the oversight of traditional media, pointing to the role of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in monitoring films and television broadcasts.

He emphasized that the government’s focus is to combat fake news and that legal action may be taken if misinformation poses a threat to national security.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Department of Justice is studying whether amendments to the cyberlibel law are necessary to curb the proliferation of fake news. (Filane Mikee Cervantes / PNA)

📸 Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman fb