The Manila Times
MALACAÑANG on Friday said the arrest of former broadcaster Jay Sonza should serve as a warning to those spreading fake news. In a statement, Acting Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) acted promptly in filing charges and arresting Sonza over posts with alleged false information about the health of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “It shows the government’s continuing effort to guard the truth, protect the public from deception and preserve a free but responsible democratic space,” Gomez said. He said the case sent a strong signal to those spreading false information online. “Misinformation undermines public trust, endangers lives and will be met with swift, lawful consequences,” he said. Gomez said the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) would continue its crackdown on fake news peddlers to ensure they were held accountable under the law. “We will continue to work with law enforcement, the media and responsible online platforms to identify, investigate and prosecute those who disseminate falsehoods,” Gomez said. The PCO recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Information and Communication Technology to stop the spread of fake news. The PCO has already submitted several cases of fake news to the DOJ for prosecution. According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, Sonza was arrested Thursday night after being charged with violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act, for spreading a fake medical bulletin about the president. Sonza, a veteran media figure, had yet to issue a statement. In April, Gomez personally filed complaints against those behind the Facebook page “Malasakit News Pilipinas” for allegedly posting false stories about a supposed energy lockdown while the country was under a state of energy emergency.
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