House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin on Monday warned the public against the spread of fake news, claiming that individuals actively involved in the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, as well as supporters of the Marcos administration's programs, have become targets of coordinated online attacks.
During the House prosecution panel's press briefing, Garin said she has observed a pattern in which public officials who are vocal on the impeachment proceedings and government initiatives are subjected not only to online bashing but also to misinformation campaigns.
"Yes, nakikita naman natin na kung sino yung active, hindi lamang dun sa impeachment, kundi dun sa mga programa ng administrasyon, ay nagkakaroon ng bashing. At hindi lang yung bashing, ang mas nakakatakot ay yung fake news," Garin said.
She cited misleading social media posts allegedly using old photographs or images taken outside the Philippines to falsely depict the extent of flooding in the country.
"Kasi yung mga ina-attach na kunyari bumaha o ganito na parang hirap na hirap yung mga tao at lumalangoy, yung iba are pictures from years, years ago. Ang iba naman ay hindi naman sa Pilipinas," she said.
Garin acknowledged that flooding has affected several areas, including parts of her district, Northern Luzon, and Central Luzon, but emphasized that the circulating images do not accurately represent the current situation.
"Totoo na merong mga pagbaha sa ilang mga lugar kasama ng distrito ko... Dahil nga umaapaw yung tubig galing sa mga ilog at sa dagat papunta sa lupa. And that is not true. Only in the Philippines. Buong mundo yan. At ang tinututukan natin ngayon ay ang pag-responde," she added.
The lawmaker claimed there is "a coordinated, systematic, well-funded response" aimed at discrediting not only the House prosecutors and their spokesperson but also other figures advocating accountability and clean governance under the Marcos administration.
"So there's really a coordinated, systematic, well-funded response. Targeting not only the prosecutors including the spokesperson and other figures who are behind the campaign for accountability and a clean governance under the current administration," Garin said.
She urged the public to remain vigilant against misinformation and what she described as "infodemics."
"So ang panawagan lang natin sa taong bayan, huwag magpadala sa peking balita, huwag rin magpadala sa mga peking medical information and what we call infodemics," she said.
Garin further appealed to Filipinos not to be deceived by false information circulating online.
"Kung sa Bisaya pa, ayaw ta magtuo-tuo, ayaw ta magpailad, hindi kita magpainto kung sa Ilongo because that is actually injustice to the Filipino people. Kaya napakalaking insulto na gagamitin natin ang fake social media posting, fake information, fake news. Not because we want to help the country, but just because we want to put down an administration that is delivering for its people," she added.
