FOMENTING FEAR
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez decried the surge of fake news and staged crime content on social media, warning that it is distorting public perception and undermining legitimate progress in public safety.
“‘Wag tayong maging tagapagsalita ng kasinungalingan. While real crime is going down, fabricated stories and scripted videos are spreading like wildfire online. Fear is being peddled for clicks and views. That’s not just irresponsible—it’s dangerous,” Romualdez said.
On Tuesday, Speaker Romualdez commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) for what he described as “stronger, smarter” policing under the Marcos administration, citing the significant drop in focus crimes nationwide and the swift arrest of the suspect within an hour in the recent road rage shooting in Antipolo City.
He credited PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil for leading reforms that have improved crime prevention strategies and response times, saying these efforts are helping restore public confidence in law enforcement and proving that “the rule of law is alive and working.”
Official data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) shows a 26.76 percent drop in focus crimes—from 4,817 cases between January 1 and February 14, 2024, to 3,528 in the same period this year.
Focus crimes include theft, robbery, rape, murder, homicide, physical injury, and carnapping of motorcycles and motor vehicles. Among these, rape saw the sharpest decline, dropping by over 50%.
Year-on-year data also reflect a 7.31 percnet decrease in focus crimes, from 41,717 cases in 2023 to 38,667 in 2024.
“These are not just numbers. Every crime prevented is a life protected, a family spared. But these real gains are being drowned out by false narratives designed to stoke fear and mistrust,” Romualdez said.
The House leader of warned that the spread of fake crime videos and unverified reports not only wastes law enforcement resources but also erodes public confidence in the justice system.
“When people stage crimes just to go viral, they’re not just misleading the public—they’re mocking real victims and sabotaging police work,” Romualdez said.
“It’s an insult to every Filipino who wants genuine peace and order,” he stressed.
The House chief called on social media users and content creators to act with integrity, as he emphasized that free expression must never be used to spread falsehoods.
“Social media is a powerful tool. But when it’s used to manufacture lies and sow panic, it becomes a threat to national stability,” he said.
“Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to mislead and deceive,” Speaker Romualdez pointed out.
Speaker Romualdez also stressed the need for a collective effort in preserving the truth and upholding public safety.
“Kung gusto natin ng Bagong Pilipinas, kailangan tayong lahat ay maging bahagi ng solusyon. Maging mapagmatyag. I-report ang kahina-hinalang kilos.,” he said.
While he praised the police force for their continued vigilance and reforms, Speaker Romualdez underscored that perception can be just as powerful as reality, and it should not be shaped by fiction.
“Our streets are safer. That’s the truth. But when fake crime content dominates social media, people are made to feel otherwise. We must not let lies erase the progress we’ve made,” he said.
The Speaker reaffirmed the support of the House of Representatives for the ongoing modernization of the PNP under the leadership of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., noting that safeguarding peace must go hand in hand with protecting the truth.
“Peace and truth must go hand in hand. You cannot preserve order if deception is what spreads. If we want a safe country, it must also be safe from lies,” Romualdez said.
Earlier, Speaker Romualdez also commended the police officers for their exemplary performance in promptly apprehending the alleged Antipolo City road rage gunman, identified as Kenneth Alajar Bautista, a 28-year-old businessman.
“Salamat sa inyong hindi matatawarang serbisyo at pagtupad ng buong katapatan at katapangan sa inyong tungkulin,” Speaker Romualdez said referring to the policemen who were awarded by the PNP led by Marbil with the Medalya ng Kagalingan for their exemplary law enforcement response.
They were Police Lieutenant Orlando Santos Jalmasco, Police Chief Master Sergeant Ranel Delos Santos Cruz, Police Corporal Kaveen John Rubia Vea, Police Corporal Joeban Acosta Abendaño, Police Corporal Niño Cipriano Chavez, Patrolman Reylan Rivarez De Chavez, Patrolman Michael Keith Lalican Panganiban, and Patrolman John Mark Bacli Manahan.
