Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday underscored the need to prosecute fake news peddlers in society.
”Alam mo, napakahirap ‘yung ating condition ngayon is, itong fake news, napakasaklap ng epekto, it’s not only the Philippines, it’s the entire world that is suffering the brunt of the deceit that is derived from fake news,” Beramin said.
(Our condition now is very difficult; this fake news has ill effects. It’s not only the Philippines; it’s the entire world that is suffering the brunt of the deceit that is derived from fake news.)
”Napakasaklap. Dapat talaga maprosecute ‘yan,” he added.
(It’s very bad. This should be prosecuted.)
READ: How to spot fake news
Bersamin refused to provide details as regards the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) coordination with Interpol to run after fake news peddlers.
”That’s operational so I’m not free to disclose even if I knew,” Bersamin said.
The NBI has been looking into whether there are individuals behind peddlers of fake news in the Philippines, Director Jaime Santiago said.
Santiago said they have started coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Telecommunications Commission, noting that individuals spreading false information are focusing on the same topics or themes.
“Pinag-aaralan naming mabuti kung bakit gano’n ang tema ng mga vloggers natin ngayon. Meron bang namumuno sa kanila? Tinitignan po namin ‘yan,” Santiago said in an ambush interview at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
(We are looking into why these are the themes of vloggers now. Is there someone behind them? We are looking into that.)
When asked if the fake news involved the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Santiago said they are investigating everything.
“Lahat na. Lahat na. Pati ‘yung paninira nila sa mga government officials. Kung anu-ano ‘yung sinasabi nilang balita na hindi namin totoo,” Santiago said.
(Everything. Even the bashing against government officials. They post news reports that are not true at all.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
