
Fake news top PNP concern for ’25 polls–PNP chief
FAKE news being disseminated through the social media is now a problem being addressed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as it fine-tunes measures to ensure a peaceful and orderly May 12 National and Local Elections, PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil said.
He said ‘Fake’ news is the ‘F’ in the ‘3 Gs and 1 F’ they are trying to address ahead of the mid-term polls.
According to the PNP chief, fake news, particularly in the social media which can be released with just one click, can really destroy the image of candidates or sow public confusion once they are posted or reposted or shared by netizens.
Thus, he has ordered the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group to continue coordinating with giant social media companies including Facebook to ensure that social media sites involved in the dissemination of black propaganda and lies in the internet will be immediately shut down.
The PNP-ACG headed by Brigadier Gen. Bernard R. Yang continues to monitor social media sites involved in such illegal activities.
Once they are identified and ‘fact-checked’ as fake news’ purveyors,’ they request companies like Facebook to permanently take them down.
The PNP leadership has called on the public to always be mindful of the authenticity of the information and the credibility of the source of information in the social media.
Unverified information or any information that cannot be independently validated as factual should always be dealt with caution and prudence, especially if the source is dubious or unknown, the PNP said.
Many government officials led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. have been victims of ‘fake news’ over the past few months.
The latest of them was PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, Brig. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III.
The PNP has urged netizens to be wary of posting and sharing fake news on their respective social media accounts since doing so could also bring them trouble with the law.
Gen. Marbil said that 100 days before the election period started, they had already been preparing to counter the so-called ‘3 Gs and 1 F’ in the mid-term polls.
Gen. Marbil said they have even included active police, military and other law enforcement officers who would engage in partisan politicking activities and actively support candidates as part of the ‘Goons’ they are targeting apart from the usual members of Private Armed Groups working for rogue politicians every election period.
He explained that policemen and soldiers who would play partisan politics and seriously involve themselves with candidates over and above their main role which is to keep peace and order and ensure a fair and orderly election would now be considered as part of the ‘Goons’ they want to neutralize.
He said that any member of the police force who would be found to be serving as unauthorized bodyguards or helping candidates at the cost of the PNP’s image will be unmasked and given strict sanctions.
“This is a warning to all. Let’s all stay apolitical,” he said.
He added that the immediate commander of policemen who will allow themselves to become ‘Goons’ of candidates will also be relieved.
He added that in going after ‘Gold,’ which refers to money being used by candidates to buy votes, they are now also addressing the possibility that vote-buyers and sellers will take advantage of GCash and other mobile payment apps in the country.
Lastly, Gen. Marbil said they really want to address fake news particularly in the social media which can make or unmake anybody.
The PNP chief said they are communicating with the Commission on Elections all their actions and recommendations to keep the mid-term polls as peaceful and orderly as possible.
During the previous two major elections in the country, the PNP reiterated that all aspirants are limited to having a maximum of two security escorts in adherence to Comelec resolutions covering the carrying of firearms and employment of bodyguards.
As a deputized agency of the Comelec, the PNP will not only strictly enforce the January 12 to June 11, 2025 gun ban but will also perform public safety duties for election security operations.