PCO intensifies fight vs fake news on Duterte ICC case

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is intensifying its fight against fake news, particularly concerning the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the International Criminal Court (ICC) case.

PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro noted the evident proliferation of misinformation linked to Duterte's arrest and false claims about First Lady Liza Marcos.

To combat disinformation, the PCO is organizing live discussions with authorities to clarify issues raised on various media platforms.

A recent live discussion featured Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Major General Nicolas Torre III, Department of Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, and Philippine National Police Spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, who addressed the events leading to Duterte's arrest.

The PCO is also collaborating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate individuals spreading false news.

Castro stressed the thin line between free speech and sedition, stating that the PCO would only take action through legal means if inciting sedition is present.

The PCO aims to help the public discern accurate information from disinformation and has called on mainstream media to aid in fact-checking and combating fake news.