Sen. Bong Go emphasized the importance of combating fake news in order to defend the truth and ensure the seamless flow of free and accurate information.
Go argued that while every Filipino has the freedom of speech in expressing themselves in a democratic country, it is important to avoid tolerating misinformation and fake news as they put the truth in danger.
“Dapat pong tuldukan na po itong fake news na ito,” said Go in an interview after attending the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education for the lawyers of the Public Attorneys’ Office in Pasay City on Thursday, October 13.
“Alam n’yo, this is democracy. May karapatan naman po tayong magsalita, magsalita nang totoo at nang tama. Pero kapag fake news na po ang ipinapakalat ninyo, imbes na makabigay kayo ng solusyon, eh dumadagdag pa po kayo sa problema,” he added.
According to a survey conducted by Pulse Asia, 86% of Filipino adults believe that the spread of “fake news” is a problem in the nation. The poll was conducted from September 17 to 21.
Balance Luzon had the highest percentage of respondents (92%) who said that fake news is a problem, followed Metro Manila (87%), the Visayas (81%), and Mindanao (77%).
The senator continued by urging Filipinos to join the fight against fake news, saying that its proliferation is unfair to those who merely desire quiet lives.
“Dapat respetuhin natin ang karapatan ng ating mga kababayan na ihayag ‘yung kanilang nasa saloobin nila — (that is) part of democracy. Pero hindi naman po ‘yung pagpapakalat ng fake news, na unfair naman po ‘yon sa gusto lang pong mabuhay nang tahimik… na gusto lang po ng katotohanan,” said Go.
“Kaya pwedeng pag-aralan nating mabuti itong pagpapakalat ng fake news. At dapat po, tuldukan na itong pagpapakalat ng fake news dahil hindi po ito nakakatulong, hindi po ito nakakadulot ng kabutihan sa ating kapwa,” he concluded.