The Manila Times
MALACAÑANG on Sunday warned the public against fabricating stories and spreading misinformation and disinformation online regarding the energy crisis. In a statement, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) acting Secretary Dave Gomez vowed that once tracked and verified, those behind the spread of fake news “will be held to account to the fullest extent of the law.” Gomez cited social media posts that circulated during Holy Week of a supposed “energy lockdown starting April 20, 2026” and which urged citizens to prepare necessities such as power banks, solar equipment, food, medicines and water. “We remind users of social media platforms that publishing false news is punishable by up to six months imprisonment under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code. When committed online, the penalty is doubled under the Cybercrime Prevention Act,” Gomez said. “Spreading fake news and disinformation undermines public trust, destabilizes our economy, and threatens the welfare of every Filipino during this time of energy emergency,” he said. He warned of “zero tolerance” for parties who maliciously and intentionally proliferate fake news online “to advance their personal or political vested interest.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order (EO) 110 declaring a state of national energy emergency to address the effects of the war in the Middle East, particularly the volatility of oil supply and its prices in the international market. Marcos said EO 110 gives the government “more options” to mitigate the effects of the soaring price of oil and petroleum products and reassured the public that the country has enough supply of oil “until the end of June.” This is in contrast to online posts, the Palace said, which could undermine public trust, disrupt the economy, and threaten national stability and ultimately “cause public harm.” “Any attempt to mislead the public about energy security, supply, or pricing to sow confusion will be treated as a serious offense. Our anti-fake-news desk, in coordination with the Department of Justice, will file charges against those who flagrantly disseminate deceptive information or manipulate markets,” Gomez said. “We are intensifying monitoring of social media and information ecosystems to detect and counter deliberate disinformation campaigns. This effort is conducted in close collaboration with our partners in the Oplan Kontra Fake News initiative of the Presidential Communications Office,” he said. Gomez called on the public to reject disinformation and uphold truth by verifying information through official government channels.
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