(House of Representatives – PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – House of Representatives Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur on Tuesday condemned the spread of fake news falsely claiming that the Supreme Court (SC) received a petition for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s resignation, calling it a reckless and desperate attempt to deceive the public and destabilize the government.
“This is a blatant act of deception, meant to sow confusion and disrupt our nation. We will not allow malicious actors to use the Supreme Court as a tool for political sabotage. The law must come down hard on those spreading these lies,” Adiong said in a statement.
He lauded the SC for swiftly debunking the fabricated document and vowed full support for efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“Ang kasinungalingan ay may tunay na epekto – nilalason nito ang isip ng taumbayan at ginugulo ang ating bansa. Ang mga nasa likod nito ay dapat managot sa ilalim ng batas (Lies poison the mind of the people and put our country into chaos. Those behind these lies should be made accountable under the law),” the lawmaker from Mindanao said.
He also urged Filipinos to exercise caution in consuming and sharing information online, calling on authorities to intensify efforts against coordinated disinformation campaigns.
“Disinformation is a serious threat to national stability. The public must be vigilant and verify sources before believing or spreading unverified claims. The truth must always prevail over deception,” Adiong said.
‘National embarrassment’
In a separate statement, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega of La Union strongly condemned the alarming spread of fake news following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, calling it a “national embarrassment” that even the International Criminal Court (ICC) has fallen victim to misinformation.
“The sheer volume of disinformation is not just disturbing – it’s humiliating. Umaabot na sa puntong pati ICC, isang international tribunal, ay nadadamay sa kasinungalingan. Nakakahiya tayo sa buong mundo (It came to the point that even the ICC was not spared from the lies. We are an embarrassment to the whole world),” Ortega said.
He pointed to narratives by former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, including claims that Duterte was missing and that the ICC was not providing him with medical attention.
“Many people were agitated by these misleading statements, and we must hold accountable those who are deliberately peddling fake news to manipulate public perception. Hindi ito simpleng usapin ng (This is not a simple issue of) opinion – deliberate disinformation ito na sinasadyang lituhin ang publiko (this is deliberate disinformation to confuse the public),” Ortega said.
He said fabricated narratives are meant to stir chaos and cast doubt on legal proceedings.
“It’s alarming that some people are so desperate to twist reality that they’ll even invent quotes from fictional characters,” Ortega said. (PNA)
